A MAN has admitted killing his girlfriend, her sister and an elderly couple.

Lawyers for Mark Hobson, 34, made the admission as he appeared briefly at Teesside Crown Court yesterday.

Hobson, of New Lane, Selby, North Yorkshire, is charged with killing girlfriend Claire Sanderson, her sister Diane, and pensioners James and Joan Britton.

Hobson, a former binman and doorman, has yet to enter formal pleas.

Hobson, dressed in a dark suit, shirt and tie, kept his head bowed and only spoke to confirm his name during the 20-minute hearing.

Ten relatives of the victims sat yards away in the jury box. The relatives, who included the parents of the 27-year-old Sanderson twins, listened intently while barristers addressed the court.

Jeremy Richardson, defending, told the court: "The defendant admits responsibility for the killings of all four individuals who were victims of the four counts of murder, Claire and Diane Sanderson and Mr and Mrs Britton. It is important that that is in the public domain at this stage. There is no denial that he was responsible for the killings."

Paul Worsley, prosecuting, said: "The families of the victims of Hobson are in court and they will be comforted, as far as they can be, by what my learned friend has said - that there will be no dispute that Hobson was responsible for the deaths of the members of their families."

The judge, Mr Justice Grigson, ordered that nothing else said during yesterday's hearing could be reported.

The dead sisters were found in a flat in Camblesforth, near Selby, North Yorkshire, on Sunday, July 18, last year.

Just a few hours later, retired railway surveyor Mr Britton, 80, and his 82-year-old wife were found dead in their home in Strensall, near York.

Hobson was arrested a week later at a petrol station in Shipton-by-Beningbrough, North Yorkshire, following a nationwide search.

Hobson was remanded in custody until April 18 when he will appear at Leeds Crown Court.