FAMILIES of those who died in the  Hillsborough disaster vowed to  continue to push for the truth,  after new revelations about their  loved ones came to light.

Tissue samples were taken from  10 of the victims during postmortem examinations, it emerged  yesterday.

The distressing news was  broken by the Hillsborough Panel,  chaired by the Bishop of Liverpool  James Jones and tasked with looking over previously secret documents related to the disaster  where 96 fans perished.

The panel has written to the  families concerned to tell them of  the news.

Bishop James said: “I am sorry  that this additional distress has  been caused to some of the Hillsborough families, who have  suffered greatly already. I know  from my previous experience in  Liverpool how much anguish has  resulted from this practice.

“The panel believes that it is  right that affected families should  have the chance to find out about  this now.”

Where families want to, the  Panel will discuss with them the  options in relation to any remaining tissue, and assist them to  ensure it is dealt with respectfully.

The fragments are what are  known  as “blocks” or “slides” and  were taken to try to establish  a  cause of death.

It is understood that the tissue  was  taken from those victims who  did not show obvious crush injuries in the dreadful aftermath of the   1989 FA Cup semi-final between  Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

Today, the practice of taking and  retaining tissue without obtaining  consent would be illegal,  but at the  time no legislation prevented medics from keeping samples.