The pair, aged 15 and 17, are also accused of attempting to murder, and inflicting grievous bodily harm on a 15-year-old boy.

They were remanded in custody at Waltham Forest Youth Court, and will appear at the Old Bailey on April 24, Scotland Yard said.

Paul died from a stab wound to the heart after he was attacked in the foyer of a block of flats in Leytonstone, east London, last Friday.

The latest charges take to four the number of teenagers accused of the schoolboy's murder.

Two boys, aged 13 and 14, appeared at the same court earlier this week, also charged with murder, attempted murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm.

They were remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on April 24.

Detectives also arrested a 19-year-old man and two boys, aged 14 and 15, who have all been bailed until June while further inquiries are carried out.

Paul was the seventh Londoner aged under 16 to be murdered since the end of January.

He was a pupil at Kingsford Community School in Beckton, east London - the same school attended by 15-year-old Adam Regis, who was stabbed to death last month.