Families of victims of necrophiliac David Fuller have been left "completely in the dark" about an inquiry looking into how the electrician was able to commit the sickening acts in two hospitals.

Fuller 67, abused the bodies of at least 100 women between 2008 and 2020, in Kent and Sussex Hospital, and then Tunbridge Wells Hospital, where he worked.

An independent inquiry has been launched into how the electrician was able to get away with his crimes for 12 years, and wider implications for the NHS.

Videos filmed by Fuller, which showed him violating the bodies, were found after he was arrested last year for the 1987 murders of Caroline Pierce and Wendy Knell in Tunbridge Wells, which he pleaded guilty to during his trial last month.

Ben Davey, of Dean Wilson LLP, which is representing 20 families of people abused by Fuller in the morgues, said they were growing frustrated over the lack of communication and information ahead of the inquiry.

Announcing the probe last month, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the inquiry will be divided in two, with an interim report due to be published in the early new year, ahead of a final report examining the national picture. It will be lead by Sir Jonathan Michael, a former chief executive of three NHS trusts.

Mr Davey said: "We haven't heard anything since November 8, when the inquiry was announced. I have spent the last three weeks writing to the trust, representatives and more recently the Department of Health just trying to get some indication of what the next steps are.

"And one of those things I have asked for is the details for Sir Jonathan Michael where we should write to in order to put forward families' thoughts and outline what their priorities are, and those requests have been denied."

"The families are completely in the dark about what's going on and immensely frustrated by it, a lot of them are angry anyway about what's been allowed to happen to their loved ones and this is rienforcing the anger."

On Thursday, Mr Davey's firm and two other companies, together representing 21 families, wrote to the Department of Health, asking for funding for the legal costs involved in the families taking part in the inquiry.

The letter said: "None of the families that we represent have any experience of taking part in an inquiry. No one has explained to them what this means, or what part they may have to play in this. They are naturally overwhelmed by the process."

The letter adds that the family are also keen to speak to Sir Michael about the terms of reference, but it now appears this will not happen until after the terms are set, which, the letter argues, contradicts the speech made by Mr Javid in the House of Commons.

Mr Davey said: "It's just bout involving them, most of them are going to have te same points to raise as you and I and any members of the public, but they need to feel they are involved."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The independent inquiry chaired by Sir Jonathan Michael will look into the circumstances surrounding the offences committed at the hospital and their national implications.

“The inquiry will help us understand how these offences took place without detection in the trust, identify any areas where early action is necessary and consider wider national issues – including for the NHS.

“The inquiry will set out its draft terms of reference and seek the views of families on these.”