The sister of a Birmingham pub bombings victim has renewed her campaign for a new inquiry into the case– after an online petition attracted only 2,700 signatures.

Twenty-one people died in the blasts at the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town pubs in November, 1974. Among the dead was Julie Hambleton’s 18-year-old sister Maxine.

Six men – Hugh Callaghan, Paddy Hill, Gerard Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, William Power and John Walker – were convicted for the bombings. They spent 16 years in jail until their convictions were quashed by the Court of Appeal in March 1991.

No-one has been brought to justice for the terrorist atrocity. Julie, 49, has campaigned tirelessly for a public inquiry into the case as part of the Justice 4 The 21 (J4T21) group. Last year she started an e-petition with the aim of getting 100,000 signatures to trigger a debate in Parliament.

Among those who signed were Paddy Hill, 66, and four retired West Midlands Police officers who were involved in the case. In June West Midlands Police confirmed that it would re-examine the pub bombings evidence using the latest forensic techniques, potentially paving the way for a fresh investigation.