POLICE were today guarding the body of moors murderer Myra Hindley who has died in hospital after suffering respiratory failure.

Hindley, aged 60, died at 4.58pm yesterday.

Winnie Johnson, the mother of Keith Bennett, one of the youngsters murdered by Hindley and Ian Brady, said: "The pair of them have made my heart very hard and really I just hope she goes to hell.

"I have no sympathy for her, even in death."

Hindley was readmitted to West Suffolk hospital at Bury St Edmunds on Tuesday, where she had spent several days earlier this month following a suspected heart attack.

The chain smoker had experienced ill health for much of her 36 years behind bars, suffering from angina, suspected strokes and osteoporosis.

Hindley and Brady, now aged 64, were jailed for life at Chester Assizes in 1966. They had both murdered 10-year-old Lesley Ann Downey and Edward Evans, aged 17.

Brady was also convicted of murdering 12-year-old John Kilbride, while Hindley was found to have been an accessory to that killing. In 1987 the pair confessed to killing 12-year-old Keith and Pauline Reade, aged 17.

During their investigations, police found a harrowing 16-minute audio tape of Lesley Ann Downey, being stripped and abused after she vanished from a fairground on Boxing Day in 1964.

The body of Mrs Johnson's son Keith has never been found.

Throughout much of her incarceration, Hindley had clung to the hope that she might one day win her freedom despite the determination of successive Home Secretaries that she should die behind bars.

Last night Hindley's solicitors, Taylor Nichol, issued a statement which read: "It is with regret that we have learned of her death today.

"Myra was deeply aware of the terrible crimes she had committed and of the suffering caused to those who died and to their relatives.

"She was acutely aware that she would not be forgiven by many.

"During her 37 years in prison those who came to know Myra, prison officials, doctors and lawyers, knew well that Myra truly repented for what she did.

"Myra leaves friends, family and an elderly mother, all of whom had supported her throughout."

But Peter Topping, a former investigating officer in the Hindley case, said: "The murders will never be forgotten in the area of Manchester where the children were abducted from.

"There is a sense of rage towards Hindley. It is particularly Hindley, because a lot of people felt Brady needed treatment.

"Hindley remained a controlled figure and was responsible for what she did. She certainly showed a sense of remorse but I view that with some scepticism."

Hospital sources said that police were guarding her body amid fears of attacks by members of the public or photographers might attempt to snatch pictures.

Arrangements have been made for a funeral service to be held at Cambridge crematorium.

Police sources said the final decision on Hindley's funeral would be a matter for her family.

Her death has spared future politicians the furore which would have surrounded her release from prison following a recent House of Lords legal challenge to life terms for murderers.

Because she was a prisoner, a coroner's inquest is expected to be opened into her death next week.