CHURCH officials have been accused of "outrageous" behaviour after cancelling the Rose Queen coronation of a 12-year-old girl because her mother is banned from the premises.

Mary Bolton, a pupil of St Wilfrid's High School, Blackburn, was due to be crowned at Greenbrook Methodist Church, Burnley, on Sunday, but just days before the ceremony church officials postponed it.

Her mother Elizabeth, 44, of Palace Gardens, Burnley, has been charged with arson and a pre-trial review of her case will be heard at Preston Crown Court in July.

Superintendent Minister the Rev Keith Richardson has written to the family banning Mrs Bolton, a former Burnley Council legal officer, from the church premises.

Now her father Peter is writing to Methodist headquarters to see if there is any way the ban can be lifted to allow the ceremony to go ahead.

He said: "Where is the Christianity in it? I am just at a loss for words to understand how he can do something like that. I read out the letter banning Elizabeth in front of the congregation and there were gasps. "I asked if they could ignore the ban just for the weekend to let the ceremony take place.

"Then the minister the Rev Jack Leach came to our house and said the coronation had been cancelled and Mary and Elizabeth were distraught. I addressed the general meeting last Sunday and pleaded for it to go ahead."

Mary was selected as Rose Queen in January because she has a 100 per cent attendance record and had been bought a £350 dress for the ceremony.

She has written to Mr Richardson and Mr Leach asking for the coronation to be allowed to take place.

Mrs Bolton has been a member of the church for 35 years and her husband has attended ever since their marriage 20 years ago.

He was a church steward for about seven years before standing down. Mary has attended ever since she was a toddler and was Christened at the church.

Mr Leach stood by the church's decision saying it would be "inhumane" for the service to take place when her mother could not attend.

He said: "Mary is our elected Rose Queen but because her mother is barred from the church we felt that we could not allow the service to go ahead. When her mother can attend we will crown her and she will have her procession."