THE parents of a policewoman killed in a high-speed car chase are fighting for recognition of her bravery after she was missed off the National Police Memorial.

PC Sandra Edwards, 28, died from her injuries after her police car left the road as she pursued a Ford Fiesta, hitting a wall and bursting into flames.

Her parents, Enid, 65, and Tom Morton, 71, of Guide Post, Northumberland, were expecting to see her name on the memorial, unveiled by the Queen in London, last month.

But they were devastated when it transpired she could not be one of the 1,600 officers honoured, because her death did not match a strict set of criteria.

Only officers killed while making an arrest or during acts of gallantry can be included. Those killed in traffic accidents are specifically excluded.

Mrs Morton said: "The main thing is my daughter died doing her duty without question, as did many others."

PC Edwards, from Bedlington, in Northumberland, had joined South Yorkshire Police when she was 18, and was a traffic officer in Barnsley at the time of her death.

Her parents expected her name to be included on the memorial, erected in The Mall, following a ten-year campaign by film director Michael Winner.

She is remembered in a 4,000-strong memorial list, compiled by the Police Roll of Honour Trust, which includes all those officers killed on duty.

Anthony Rea, director of the Police Roll of Honour Trust, said: "The Police Memorial was set up by Michael Winner, and while it was established to honour all police officers, he wished to pay special recognition to those officers killed by criminals, effecting arrests or through acts of gallantry.

"That was his choice, not ours."