A statement issued by Mr Hodgson's solicitor, Julian Young, said his client was obviously relieved that his denials had been accepted and his innocence, which he had maintained for so many years, confirmed.

''Sadly, the mother of the victim now has to face the possibility and distress of the circumstances of the case being reopened.''

He added: ''At a time when the criminal justice system is under scrutiny, it is gratifying to see all parties co-operating to rectify a serious miscarriage of justice.''

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Mr Young also commented on an aspect of the ruling when Lord Judge pointed out that there was an additional feature of the case ''which we must draw attention to''.

The judge said the court had been told during the hearing that in 1998 an inquiry was made by solicitors then acting on behalf of the appellant to the Forensic Science Service about the existence of relevant exhibits associated with the murder.

He said ''presumably that request would have been made in order to see whether further testing might then be possible''.

The judge said the response was that none of the exhibits had been retained and that was ''plainly wrong''.

He added: ''We have been told that the matter has been referred to the appropriate forensic regulator. We can say no more about it until these investigations have been completed.''

After the ruling, Mr Young said: ''Ten years ago someone in the Forensic Science Service, perhaps by accident, made an error of some sort, and as a result he stayed in custody 10 years longer.''

Indicating that further action for compensation was under consideration, he said: ''Whether Forensic Science have liability in respect of an error 10 years ago is a matter for another day, when we have a chance to talk to Sean at some length.''

Mr Young said no-one was being blamed at the stage when the jury found him guilty on the basis of the evidence before them.

If the jury had known what was known now they ''would have almost certainly not convicted him - if he had ever been charged''.

Mr Hodgson, who, the court heard, has suffered mental and physical health problems for many years, was now being helped by a miscarriage of justice team and would be visiting healthcare professionals.

It would then be for him ''to make his own decision on where he wants to live''.

Mr Young said Mr Hodgson was ''looking forward one day to going to watch a football match'', adding that he believed he was a Sunderland supporter.

Asked about Mr Hodgson's description of himself as ''ecstatic'', Mr Young said: ''That describes him most definitely.

''He is very pleased that the nightmare is at long last over.''