Family of schoolgirl, 10, beaten to death with cricket bat launch campaign to keep her killer in prison

The family of a murdered schoolgirl have launched a campaign to keep her killer behind bars as they fear he could soon be released from prison.

Lauren Pilkington-Smith, 10, was battered to death with a cricket bat by Keiron Smith, then 17, and was later found in woods near her home in Leigh, Lancashire, in July 2005.

For the past 13 years, her heartbroken family claim they have struggled to understand the motive behind Lauren's senseless and brutal murder.

But to add to their heartbreak, Smith, who was jailed for life with a minimum of 15 years, could be released on parole in 2020, and the family have now launched a petition to keep the killer in prison.

Smith killed Lauren as the pair were walking back in isolated woodland following a game of cricket involving them and another youngster who had returned home earlier.

He then hid her body in undergrowth.

Lauren's grandfather found her body with a sock stuffed into her mouth and two twigs shoved up each nostril.

Thirteen years on, Lauren's mum, Alison Pilkington-Smith, 47, said she's horrified by the prospect of the killer's release.