THE parents of tragic teenager Melissa Strickson are considering suing a council after snubbing a report into her death.

Sue and Vic Strickson, of Tythebarn Street, Darwen, rejected the opportunity to preview the 12-page document from the Area Children Protection Committee which will be published on September 26.

Instead, they are considering legal action for compensation against Blackburn with Darwen Council after claiming their requests for Melissa to be placed in a children's home were denied.

The couple were angered that they were only offered two hours to preview the report by the ACPC, a multi-agency forum which co-ordinates the safeguards of children in the borough.

Sue said: "They are just being unreasonable. They have spent a year compiling a report and say we can look at it for two hours in their offices.

"We can't digest all that information straight away. I believe we lost our daughter because of their inaction.

"We kept asking for help time and time again but they didn't respond. They are being unhelpful and it is deeply upsetting to us."

Melissa, 13, died in October last year after running away from home with three other girls and taking refuge at home of self-confessed white witch Sally Corkhill, of Sudell Road, Darwen.

She had a massive overdose of coproximol tablets and was pronounced dead on arrival at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Corkhill, 41, was sentenced to two years in jail after pleading guilty to four abduction charges and two of administering a controlled drug.

She was cleared of manslaughter.

Her lover, Lee Harrison, 31, also of Sudell Road, received nine months on four charges of child abduction.

Sue said Blackburn with Darwen Council repeatedly failed to give them help in controlling Melissa, who ran away from home 27 times.

Vic said: "People have to be able to trust social services. We asked again and again for our daughter to be taken away to somewhere safe, away from bad influences.

"That didn't happen and now we have lost our daughter."

Andy Docherty, chairman of the ACPC serious cases review team, said: "The committee wanted to offer Mr and Mrs Strickson an opportunity, out of courtesy and respect, to be first to see the report which will now be published on September 26.

"The report is 12 pages long and the planned meeting with members of the ACPC would have allowed Mr and Mrs Strickson some time to absorb the report's contents just before its public release.

"The arrangement for the meeting were flexible.

"Mr and Mrs Strickson have decided not to view the report in advance and the committee respects this decision."