John Clare, of the Cambridge Evening News, was the only regional press journalist on the jurors' coach to Soham for the murder trial of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

He was one of five reporters allowed to accompany the court, which had left its regular Old Bailey venue to visit Soham village, and the site where Ian Huntley is alleged to have dumped the bodies of the two 10-year-olds just hours after murdering them at his house.

They travelled in a motorcade headed by police motorcycle outriders, followed by the judge - driven in a silver saloon car - the jury, a minibus with barristers and lawyers, and then two police cars.

The five members of the press included a national print journalist, broadcasters and the Evening News' John Clare.

He watched as the jurors saw the local area, and files colour pieces and news reports for the paper.

News editor John Deex said the court was convened at the site and court rules applied to the visit, with press keeping out of earshot of any jury comments, and the court artist accompanying the press not allowed to draw at the scene.

He said: "John was in the press pool for both trips - the one to Soham and the one to Lakenheath. He was with a reporter from the Press Association, a TV and radio reporter, a national newspaper journalist and the court artist.

"He filed to us first and then to other papers which were interested."

The Evening News has filled pages 1-5 each day so far with news of the trial of Ian Huntley and Maxine Carr.

John said: "Our last deadline is at 1.30pm and we can carry nearly all that day's news.

"We'll repeat some of that in the early edition next day, and then start again with the latest copy."

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