A MAN who claims his father's death at Airedale Hospital was the result of foul play has started a new legal bid for justice.

Artist and architect John Craven, 64, says the Hillsborough inquest verdicts, that the 96 fans were unlawfully killed due to police blunders, had given weight to his fight.

His father, Frederick, died at the Steeton hospital, aged 81, of septicaemia and pneumonia, in November 2001.

His death was initially investigated by police as part of their inquiries into nurse Anne Grigg-Booth, who was charged with the murders of three patients, but died of an accidental drugs overdose before she could be tried.

A number of years later police informed Mr Craven's son that his father's death had been incorrectly recorded as a crime and should have been withdrawn from the inquiry.

After more than a decade of campaigning, to Government minister level, for the case to be reopened, John Craven maintains that his father was murdered and there has been a miscarriage of justice.

Mr Craven, of Oxenhope, said: "I am pleased for the Hillsborough families that they have finally got justice after all these years, and that the police have been found to have made mistakes and covered them up.

"It has sinister parallels to my father's case and strengthens my belief that there is justice out there for my dad.

"As a result of the Hillsborough verdicts I have taken further legal advice and a major firm of solicitors in Glasgow has agreed to take up my case. I have also approached Michael Mansfield QC to ask if he will get involved.

"I will be seeking criminal injuries compensation from West Yorkshire Police for trauma and stress. I have also contacted the Independent Police Complaints Commission asking them to look into the case again."

Three years ago Mr Craven received an apology from the IPCC, which upheld his appeal against a decision by the former West Yorkshire police authority not to formally record a complaint against the then West Yorkshire Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison about the way his allegations were handled.

The IPCC said the police authority did not inform Mr Craven of his right to appeal.

"This has caused ten years of stress and trauma to our entire family," said Mr Craven.

"I think there should be criminal compensation and I think there should be criminal prosecutions, and the Hillsborough verdicts boost my case and my arguments.

"It's not about the money. I remain convinced my father was murdered and I still want justice for him."

A spokesman for the IPCC confirmed it had been contacted by Mr Craven.