A family's three-year fight for justice over the death of van driver Jamie Collins outside a Southend nightspot is now in the hands of a top London police officer.

A City of London superintendent will carry out a review of the case after the family accused Essex Police of a cover-up in dealing with their formal complaint.

The family, from Stevenage, claim the force did not treat either the investigation or their formal complaint seriously because officers had decided Jamie, 24, had fallen rather than been the victim of an attack.

Jamie Collins visited Brocketts on Southend seafront on July 21, 1996, for a stag party.

Hours later, after he had been escorted from the club, he was found unconscious on a pavement. He died a week later in Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge.

At the inquest the coroner gave "serious consideration" to recording a verdict of unlawful killing but because of witness indiscrepancies recommended the jury return an open verdict.

However, the family - including Graham Storey, father of Jamie's girlfriend Tammy - who is himself a serving police officer, made a formal complaint about the way the investigation had been handled.

It is alleged there has been a cover-up by Essex Police over its handling of the family's complaint.

Barbara Follett, Labour MP for Stevenage, said: "I am very glad to learn that Essex Police have referred the case of Jamie Collins to the City of London police.

"I welcome the fresh inquiry into the way the original complaint investigation was handled by the force."

Mr Storey added: "We are happy that the investigation is being handled independently because the family do not have any confidence in Essex Police.

"We understand some statements have already been taken and there has been a promise that no stone will be left unturned."

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "A superintendent from the City of London has been asked to review the way in which the complaint made by the Collins family was investigated by Essex Police."

She added that it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. A copy of the report will to go the Police Complaints Authority.

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