A RIBBLE Valley mother’s online petition for official recognition for one of the key figures in exposing the Rochdale sexual grooming scandal to now has more 275,000 supporters.

Sara Rowbotham was an NHS sexual health worker whose work was vital in securing the convictions of nine abusers in 2012.

Clitheroe mum-of-six Katie Blezard started the petition after watching the BBC drama Three Girls where Sara, whom she describes as ‘a hero’, was played by Maxine Peake.

The petition on Change.org is now well over the number for Parliamentary debate on an official petition on the government’s website.

Ms Blezard said: “I am amazed and overwhelmed by the response.

“I would now like a debate at Westminster and an honour for Sara.”