The father of murdered Bradford on Avon woman Melanie Hall has said a major breakthrough in the hunt for the killer of Surrey schoolgirl Milly Dowler has given his family renewed hope.

Steve Hall, 65, of Leigh Grove, Bradford Leigh, said the fact a 41-year-old man was charged last week with murdering 13-year-old Milly, eight years after her body was found on Yateley Heath in Hampshire, means it is important never to give up on the pursuit for justice.

His 25-year-old daughter’s remains were found by the side of the M5 six months ago, 13 years after she vanished from Cadillacs nightclub in Bath in June 1996.

Mr Hall said this week: “We identify with other situations that are similar to ours, only because they are similar,” he said.

“You have the situation for instance where someone was charged with the murder of Milly Dowler. That case has been going on for eight years.

“We think if they have got progress here, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t happen with us.”

Mr Hall and his wife Pat are being kept updated with the latest developments in Avon and Somerset Police’s inquiry, which this week saw photos released of clothing and jewellery similar to those worn by Melanie before she vanished.

Detectives believe the killer could have taken an item, or several items, as a trophy.

Melanie’s remains were found without any trace of clothing or jewellery, except for a patterned ring on one of her fingers, which belonged to her great grandmother.

Police believe Melanie’s body, which was wrapped in bin bags and bound with blue rope, was dumped shortly after she disappeared.

Mr Hall said he was not surprised that his daughter’s clothes and jewellery had been removed, but said the revelation was not as distressing as news of the injuries Melanie had suffered, including significant blows to her head.

“I found it very hard when the injuries were exposed,” he said.

“The fact they have not found her clothing hasn’t surprised me – it’s not unusual in circumstances like this.

“I haven’t found that quite so distressing. But you can’t escape from the injuries.

“Certainly until she was found we always tried to hope that whatever happened was the least horrific as possible. You hope that there is no violence but, of course, there has been some violence. We also hoped she wasn’t in a situation where she suffered for a long time. We try not to imagine the worst.”

He added: “Finding Melanie’s physical remains brought her home and having a funeral was a target to aim for and having now achieved that, it has left a void from a personal point of view.

“Actually catching someone and convicting them will not make much difference feelings wise. The thing we really want is to have Melanie back, which we’re not going to do.”

In the summer Mr and Mrs Hall plan to bury Melanie’s ashes alongside those of her great grandparents on her father’s side, in a village churchyard near Bath.

“We shall do that at an appropriate time, when the summer comes,” Mr Hall said.