A COUPLE whose daughter died at the hands of an abusive partner have been nominated for a Pride of Britain award.

Trevor and Sheila Fairhurst were put forward for the honour by Greater Manchester Police officer PC Amanda Riley, based in Leigh, following their efforts to raise awareness of the Victim Support Counselling Service charity.

The couple set up a fund after their 19-year-old daughter Carly died in February 2006 from serious head injuries, sustained when her partner Darren John Pilkington, of Francis Street, Hindley, pushed her down a flight of stairs.

Trevor said: “We are incredibly flattered to be nominated, especially by GMP, although there are more worthy causes than ours. It is an honour to just be thought of in that way and we are thoroughly thankful.”

The Hindley Green couple have been raising awareness around domestic abuse and have raised more than £50,000 to date for the special cause through thecarlyfund.co.uk website.

The couple also backed GMP’s crackdown on domestic violence during the World Cup.

PC Riley said: “Nobody deserves the Pride of Britain ITV local fundraiser of the year award more than these two. Despite being completely grief-stricken, Sheila and Trevor have found the strength to retell their unimaginable nightmare to help victims, and those who think they may know someone who is a victim of abuse, to put an end to their suffering.

“They have appeared in a documentary, been involved in countless TV shows, where they retold their story, and have most recently supported Greater Manchester Police in their latest World Cup campaign against domestic abuse.”