A murdering former Royal aide who went missing from prison near Maidstone is set to be released, it has been reported.

Jane Andrews, who once served as a royal dresser to the Duchess of York, became the target of a nationwide police hunt when she went missing from East Sutton Park Prison near Maidstone in November 2009.

She was sentenced to life for murder in 2001 for battering boyfriend Tom Cressman with a cricket bat and stabbing him with a kitchen knife when he refused to marry her.

After serving eight-and-a-half years of her sentence, she was moved to East Sutton open prison near Sutton Valence, but spent only four days there before going missing.

She was found three days later at The Premier Inn at the Maidstone Services, junction 8 of the M20.

A spokesman for the Parole Board said: "We can confirm that a three-member panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Jane Andrews.

"The decision to release is a matter for the Board, which is independent. Arrangements and the date of the release are a matter for the Ministry of Justice. We are unable to comment further on the details of this case."