A PETITION has been handed over to probation service bosses in a bid to prevent two of the people involved in the death of body-in-the-lodge victim Sajjad Mahmood from being released.

More than 500 people have backed the petition, organised by the family of Sajjad after they received a letter from the Parole Service informing them that two of the men convicted following Sajjad's death had asked to be freed.

Wayne Kelly, 23, of Royds Street, Accrington, and Karl Barton, 22, of Manor Gardens, Church, were both jailed for six years in 1999 for grievous bodily harm on Sajjad, whose body was discovered in Hagg's Lodge, Hyndburn Road, in April 1998. A third man, James Butler, 21, of Persia Street, Accrington, was jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

The family of Sajjad are now determined to make sure Kelly and Barton are not released so soon after their son's death.

Nighat, Sajjad's mother, said: "When we heard this, we were devastated.

"This isn't justice. We are the ones serving a life sentence."

She added: "Nobody has refused to sign the petition. They are all as appalled as we are."

A spokesman for the Lancashire Probation Service, based in Preston,said the petition would have been handed over to the relevant parole board.

Mum's agony: See separate story