GRIEVING parents Richard and Thelma Oxley believe the police can learn lessons from the way the investigation into the death of their daughter was carried out.

An inquest into the death of Helen Oxley, 19, who died while cycling home on the B4042 Malmesbury to Brinkworth road at 11.30pm on July 23 last year, heard her jumper may have obscured her rear light.

But her parents of The Gate, Brinkworth, claim the jumper was destroyed before the length of it was checked.

They have now written to Chief Constable Martin Richards and North Wiltshire MP James Gray to ask for changes to be made.

Mrs Oxley said: "It is crucial for other investigations to be carried out properly and we are hoping the chief constable will implement changes."

Mrs Oxley said she wanted it to become common practice to keep the clothing of people involved in road traffic accidents.

The accident happened when Brinkworth villager Roy Webb overtook Miss Oxley in his Ford Ka. The inquest heard that while she was being overtaken, the bicycle and car connected, causing Miss Oxley to veer into the path of oncoming Crudwell motorist Michael Finch.

A verdict of accidental death was reached by coroner Richard van Oppen on March 23.

The Oxley family are upset because collision investigator PC Mark Finister used a photograph taken at the scene showing Miss Oxley lying on her jumper, which had been torn away from her in the collision.

They believe Mr Finister assumed the jumper had been tied around her waist and obscured her bicycle's rear light, therefore reducing Mr Webb's visibility of the teenager to around 30 metres.

During the inquest, Huw Ponting, representing the Oxley family, also questioned the officer why no checks had been done on the length of the garment. Mr van Oppen said the policeman's conclusion was based on assumption rather than evidence.

Last week the Gazette reported Miss Oxley had been in a fight before the accident. She had in fact been assaulted. Her father said: "Helen had been drinking but only equivalent to about two pints of beer."