THE family of murdered schoolgirl Zoe Evans could know by Christmas how long the nine year old's killer will remain behind bars.

In a letter to west Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison, Home Office officials confirmed murderer Miles Evans' tariff would be one of the first to be considered when new legislation comes into force in November.

Zoe's grandmother, Ann Hamilton, 57, who has been behind a tireless campaign for justice, said the family were clinging on to the hope of an early Christmas present. She said: "I was really pleased when I received a copy of the letter. I hope it goes through before Chr-istmas so we can all rest."

Mrs Hamilton, of Westfield Road, Trowbridge, helped the Wiltshire Times gather nearly 1,000 signatures calling on home secretary David Blunkett to set a minimum sentence for the schoolgirl's killer.

Mrs Hamilton said: "All the people who supported the campaign have helped to make a difference."

As well as putting their name to our campaign, readers wrote in pledging their support, including friends who had been at school with Zoe.

The petition was handed over to Dr Murrison in July and he raised the issue at the last Parlia-mentary question time before the summer recess.

He said: "I am pleased the Home Secretary has cited this case as one of the first to be dealt with, but we need to bear in mind Miles Evans was convicted in 1998 it is a great pity Zoe's family has had to wait this long."

In the latest letter, Paul Coggins, Parliamentary under secretary of state, said he regretted the delay, blaming the wait on changes to the Criminal Justice Bill. "It was inevitable there would be some delay," he added.

"The priority given to the handling of cases awaiting tariff setting for the first time will be entirely a matter for the High Court to decide.

"However, we would expect the court as a general rule to look at cases in the order of conviction. On that basis the case of Miles Evans would be among the earliest to be considered."

Zoe was strangled and buried on a hill near her home in Warminster by her stepfather in 1997.