The jury who will try the man accused of murdering schoolgirl Claire Tiltman has been sworn in this morning.

The seven men and five women were selected from a panel of 24 potential jurors at the Inner London Crown Court.

Four reserve jurors were also chosen for the trial of Colin Ash-Smith, which is expected to last up to six weeks.

The jury has been told that prosecutor Brian Altman QC will give his opening speech on Thursday and Friday.

They will then be taken on what Mr Justice Sweeney described as "a view of relevant places" on Monday next week.

The 46-year-old from Swanscombe is charged with the murder of Claire in January, 18, 1993.

The 16-year-old, who had celebrated her birthday just four days earlier, was fatally stabbed in an alleyway off London Road, Greenhithe.

Her parents, Lin and Cliff Tiltman, have since died.

The defendant's father, Aubrey Ash-Smith, was sitting in the public gallery today.

In November 2012, the Crown Prosecution Service received a file of evidence from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate as part of a cold case review.

Ash-Smith was charged earlier this year.

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