The mother of James Bulger has met justice secretary Jack Straw to discuss the case of Jon Venables.

Denise Fergus held the meeeting in Blackburn, Lancashire, as the Government sought to allay public fears that everything is being done to keep her informed about the case.

Jon Venables, who along with Robert Thomspon murdered  toddler James Bulger in 2001, has been sent back to prison and is now facing "very serious allegations". Mrs Fergus has called for Venables to lose the anonymity granted him on his release and have his identity revealed. But there is concern that any revelations could jeopardise a fair trial.

Following the meeting, Mr Straw's spokesman said the Justice Secretary tried to answer Mrs Fergus's questions "as fully as he could".

Mrs Fergus's spokesman said: "Denise and her husband Stuart had a private meeting with Jack Straw at Blackburn Town Hall. It was a cordial meeting that lasted for a little more than an hour, and it was mutually decided that neither party would disclose the substance of what was discussed."

Both Venables and Thompson were released from custody in 2001 with new identities. The murder in Bootle, Merseyside, shocked the country because of the youth of the two boys convicted of murder. They were just 10 when they carried out the killing on a railway line.