PARENTS battling to save their daughter's headstone have been invited to a preliminary hearing at the Diocese of Manchester.

Marilyn and Tony Cheetham of Brook Bank, Harwood, have been asked to meet Church of England representatives on Friday to discuss the forthcoming consistory court hearing in which they will fight to keep their daughter Hayley's memorial at Christ Church.

The couple had been asked to remove the memorial to 24-year-old Hayley as it includes an engraved picture of her.

Mr and Mrs Cheetham have been overwhelmed by support from members of the public in their campaign to keep the headstone and have collected more than 2,000 signatures for a petition which they will present to the diocese.

Hayley, a former Turton High School pupil, died in February last year when a fire swept through a listed cottage after a house party in Esher, Surrey.

Her father said: "We are looking forward to setting the ball rolling when we go to Manchester.

"I am hoping they will be able to give us a date for the full hearing while we are there.

"We will not be able to discuss the actual issues surrounding Hayley's headstone, but this will be a chance to find out exactly what goes on in a consistory court.

"We do not have to attend, but we feel we should so we know precisely what goes on." HOUSE FIRE HORROR: Hayley Cheetham HEADSTONE BATTLE: The controversial memorial