Donations to a legal fund set up to challenge the release of serial rapist John Worboys have doubled in the 24 hours since the government said it would not contest the decision.

Former black cab driver Worboys is due to be released from prison less than 10 years after he was jailed for drugging and sexually assaulting 12 women and raping one.

Police have said they believe he could have attacked up to 102 victims while lawyers believe there were 105.

There are thought to be up to 105 victims of John Worboys, who will be release after serving less that 10 years

Justice Secretary David Gauke came under fire for ruling out the Government launching a case because legal advice said it would lose.

The Centre for Women's Justice has been seeking donations to fund a legal challenge to the Parole Board's decision on behalf of two of his victims, who want to find out why he was released so they can challenge it.

Yesterday afternoon, donations stood at around £18,000 but that has now reached £40,000 as anger mounts over the decision to free Worboys.

Solicitors Birnberg Peirce sent a letter to the Parole Board threatening judicial review proceedings on two grounds.

They sayParole Board rules which prevent the publication of decisions to free offenders are unlawful and in the Worboys case there is a is an over-riding public interest in understanding the decision.

The decision to release the rapist 'in the light of all the known facts surrounding his offence and reports of his progression in prison appears to be wholly irrational', they also argue.

Justice Minister has been criticised after deciding not to launch a case because legal advice said the Government would lose

The Centre for Women's Justice has seen donations surge as anger mounts over the decision to free the rapist

Harriet Wistrich, solicitor at Birnberg Pierce, and also Director of the Centre for Women's Justice said: 'This will be an unprecedented legal challenge.

'Where a decision appears to be so irrational, as it does in this case given all the known facts, there is an arguable basis to challenge the rules preventing publication of reasons.

'If we get access to the reasons then we can explore grounds for challenging a decision which is so insulting and horrific for all the victims concerned.'

The two victims the case is being brought on behalf of are known as DSD and NBV.

DSD was one of his earliest known victim and he drugged and sexually assaulted her in early 2003, while NBV was drugged and sexually assaulted by him in 2007, his 75th known victim.

Former minister Nick Boles tore into the decision not to challenge the release of Worboys

In a tweet he attacked the 'timidity and lack of ambition' of Theresa May's government

Tory former minister Nick Boles tore into Theresa May's 'pathetic' decision not to order a judicial review into the release of 'vile creature' John Worboys.

Mr Boles, who was business minister until July 2016, earlier said on Twitter: 'There is a timidity and lack of ambition about Mrs May's Government which means it constantly disappoints.

'Time to raise your game, Prime Minister. #worboys #HousingCrisis #NHSfunding #etcetc'.

Mr Boles told Mail Online: 'I just felt the last straw was the decision not to judicially review the parole board's decision to release this vile creature Worboys.

'I just think it's a pathetic display.

'I don't care what the advice was about the chances of success of a judicial review, I want my Government to stand up for its conviction and to represent me and my constituents.

'Even if we are going to lose the case lets hire the best QC in the country to go into a court and argue on behalf of the government and the British people what we all believe.

'And at least that will reassure people that we know that the system is wrong and we are determined to change it, and that we are utterly appalled and ashamed that this decision has been made in the way it has.'