Sweeping changes to the British legal system could be in place by January - leaving the way clear for Billy Dunlop to be retried for the murder of Julie Hogg.

The Home Office has revealed that the White Paper, announced on Wednesday by Home Secretary David Blunkett, could become law as soon as the New Year.

Among the proposals is an end to the double jeopardy law which has, until now, prevented people being tried twice for the same crime.

The White Paper also proposed making the changes to double jeopardy retrospective meaning cases like that of Dunlop could be revisited.

Dunlop twice walked free from court after the jury failed to reach a verdict over the 1989 murder of Billingham pizza delivery girl Julie Hogg but years later, when in prison for another offence, he confessed to the crime.

Since then Julie's parents, Ann and Charlie Ming, have been campaigning for a change in the law so, where there is new evidence, people can be retried for serious crimes.

This week David Blunkett's White Paper backed the Mings' campaign and called for a retrospective change in the law.

The White Paper will be discussed when Parliament reconvenes in September and if it is passed through the House of Commons and the Lords with little debate, it could be made law early in 2003.

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "In theory the new law could be in place by the new year but this would be the system working at its quickest with no delays."

But because there is some opposition among MPs to the proposals, which include reducing the right to trial, it is expected the bill may be delayed in becoming law.

Yesterday (thurs) Ann Ming spoke to The Northern Echo of her delight at the news that the man who confessed to killing her daughter could be brought to justice in a matter of months.

She said: "That would be an amazing New Year present. I am hoping to visit the Crown Prosecution Service to ask them to reopen the file on Julie's case as soon as they can.

"Once the law is in place I hope they look at the new evidence and bring a case against Dunlop."