A man who has battled for more than a decade to prove his father was the victim of foul play has taken his fight to the top ranks of government.

Lawyers acting on behalf of John Craven, 61, have written to Home Secretary Teresa May and Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, urging them to step in on the case.

His father, Frederick Craven, a former Bradford Park Avenue footballer, died aged 81 of septicaemia and pneumonia at Airedale Hospital, Steeton, in November 2001.

His death was investigated by police as part of their inquiries into nurse Anne Grigg-Booth, who was charged with the death of three patients but died before she could be brought to trial.

Four years ago police informed Mr Craven his father's death had been incorrectly recorded as a crime and should have been withdrawn from the inquiry as nothing untoward had been found about his care in hospital.

But Mr Craven, an artist and architect, of Oxenhope, maintains his father was murdered.

He received an apology last year from the Independent Police Complaints Commission after he complained against former West Yorkshire Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison over the way his allegations were handled.

Now he is asking ministers to release the police file on his father’s case and his father’s hospital treatment records.

Mr Craven said: “We have still not been given the police investigation file, which we had asked for.

“I remain convinced that my father was murdered and I will carry on until I get justice.

“We have written to the Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, and to Home Secretary Teresa May, asking that they consider that there has been an abuse of process and a miscarriage of justice.

“I want compensation for my hurt, pain and suffering, but above all I want to get to the facts.”

His solicitor, Nick Peterken, said: “We have written to Chris Grayling and Teresa May and are awaiting a response.”