Speaking to Broadcast about the project, Channel 4’s Sacha Mirzoeff says: “This is the highly sensitive inside story of how the police investigating teams go about their work while the families tell their side of the story from within the Merseyside community.

“Together they make a heart-rending, compulsive series that has been handled with compassion and aplomb by the LA Productions team.”

As well as offering viewers exclusive access to the inner workings of Merseyside Police, Ashley and Olivia’s families are also given the chance to speak about their lost loved ones during the documentary.

“It was a very, very, very hard watch but I’m glad it’s been done,” says Ashley’s mother, Julie Dale, during a recent appearance on BBC Breakfast.

“I’m glad we were able to have a part of it and give Ashley a voice, and also to tell our story and come into our home and see us as a family and how this has affected us, what this does to you, how it affects every aspect of your life.”

Merseyside Detectives: The Murders Of Ashley And Olivia promises to be a heart-rending watch