THE mother of Moors Murder victim Keith Bennett today launched a new campaign to find his body.

Winnie Johnson, 72, says she cannot rest until the 12-year- old's body has been recovered from Saddleworth Moor, where he is believed to have been buried by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley in 1964.

Mrs Johnson has made several efforts to find her son and has written to Brady in Ashworth Hospital on Merseyside to ask for his help in locating the burial site.

It emerged last week that Brady wrote to Mrs Johnson recently and said he had `clarity' about Keith's death.

She has recruited Merseyside solicitor David Kirwan to put pressure on the Government and police to increase search resources as the 40th anniversary of Brady and Hindley's conviction approaches in May.

Mr Kirwan said: "Winnie Johnson has spent the last 40 years wondering where Keith is buried.

"She cannot rest until she is reunited with her son's body. Her worst nightmare is that she will go to her own grave not having been able to give Keith a proper, dignified burial.

"Everyone connected with this case should use the 40th anniversary of the sentencing of Brady and Hindley to provide Winnie Johnson with the closure she so desperately wants."

Mr Kirwan refused to say whether he would make a direct approach to Brady for help, but added: "I am sure millions of people in Britain share my belief that no stone must be left unturned to give my client the peace of mind she craves after all these years."

Mrs Johnson said: "I have lived with this for over 40 years and I cannot rest until I have given Keith a decent burial."

Keith was 12 at the time of his abduction and murder. He vanished while on his way to his grandmother's house in 1964.

Brady and Hindley were jailed for life at Chester Assizes on May 6, 1966, after being tried for the murders of Edward Evans, 17, Lesley Ann Downey, 10, and John Kilbride, 12.

The body of a fourth victim, Pauline Reade, was found in 1987, leaving Keith as the only undiscovered victim.

Hindley died in November, 2002, of a chest infection following a heart attack.