Among the firms Trevor and Sheila Fairhurst approached before a fundraiser in memory of their late daughter Carly was the freight company Eddie Stobart.

The couple thought their appeal had fallen on deaf ears, but now they have received a letter saying while the company is not able to give donations it would like to name one of its lorries after the Hindley 19-year-old.

The Stobart trucks are known countrywide both for their distinctive livery and the fact each vehicle in the fleet has a different woman's name on the front.

The trucks were originally named after drivers' wives and partners, but they have become so iconic there is now a three-year waiting list of members of the public requesting names in return for donations to charity.

The names are kept for the duration of the lorry's roadlife, which is usually five years.

In support of the Fairhursts' fundraising for Wigan Victim Support and Witness Service, the company is now planning to put Carly's name at the front of the queue and a truck should soon be repainted accordingly.

Trevor, of Park Road, Hindley, said: "I was driving when I heard about this and had to pull over because I was filling up.
"It's a very nice gesture and ensures that Carly's name, and the message about the dangers of domestic violence, is kept in the public arena."
Carly died following a fatal attack in February 2006.

Since then, her parents have campaigned to raise money for the Victim
Support counselling services that were threatened with closure around the time they needed them most.

Early this month they held a second Concert for Carly on what would have been her 22nd birthday.

A sell-out audience at the event at Aspull Village Club helped to raise at least £7,000 through a raffle, auction and admission prices.

And that total looks set to increase. The auction went on for so long that it had to be cut short, leaving several highly desirable items – including signed books and a pair of boxing gloves from Amir Khan.

Among the most popular lots were an England World Cup squad picture signed by Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters and a Hurst montage also signed by the hat-trick hero. They both went for around £400 each.