The parents of a teenage couple murdered in the Manchester Arena bombing have been told their deaths will be formerly registered in two days time - by a complete stranger, an MP has said.
Chloe Rutherford and Liam Curry's parents 'are being denied this final act for their children', their MP added, almost five years on from the atrocity.
Chloe, 17, and Liam, 19, both from South Shields in the North East, were described at the public inquiry into the attack as 'inseparable' teenage sweethearts.
They died side by side on May 22, 2017 after an Ariana Grande concert at the venue - two of 22 lives lost.
The inquiry heard they were 'beautiful young people' who had already mapped out their lives together.
The Manchester Evening News has asked the Home Office for a full explanation after Emma Lewell-Buck, the Labour MP for South Shields, spoke in the House of Commons on Tuesday and said Liam and Chloe's parents wanted to formerly register their deaths personally.
Their pain, she added, was 'unimaginable and constant'.
But, the MP said, they have been told that in two days time, it will be done on their behalf by a complete stranger.
Mrs Lewell-Buck urged the Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, to explain the situation - and urgently intervene.
She added that 'apparently' it's standard practice after a 'mass casualty event'.
The MP said: "Chloe Rutherford and Liam Curry, from South Shields, were tragically murdered in the Manchester Arena terror attack.
"Their parents' pain is unimaginable and constant.
"After sitting through hours of the inquiry, they have been told that in just two days time the registration of their precious children's deaths will not be done by them, but by a stranger.
"Apparently this is standard practice for mass casualty events. These grieving parents are being denied this final act for their children.
"Please can the Secretary of State explain why and urgently intervene."
Mr Javid sent his condolences to the couple's parents.
In response, he said: "Of course I would be more than happy to meet the Honorable Lady.
"It is a very important issue she has raised."
Only relatives or certain others are qualified by law to register a death and usually, it's done within five days at a local register office.
It's understood, however, the situation can change due to a coronial process.
The public inquiry was announced in October 2019 after first being inquests. There's no provision for anyone other than the local registrar to register a death where the cause of it has been decided at an inquest, said the Home Office.
Both Chloe and Liam were killed when suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a home-made backpack bomb in the 'City Room' foyer area of the Arena.
Sixty three people were seriously injured and 111 hospitalised in what was the deadliest terrorist attack in the UK since the 7/7 London bombings in 2005.
Liam's mother, Caroline Curry, and Chloe's parents, Lisa and Mark Rutherford, have been present to hear evidence at the inquiry, which has now drawn to a close with no more scheduled evidence to be heard.
Liam's father, Andrew, sadly died just two months before the Arena bombing, after a long illness.
Liam, who planned to join the police service, was studying sports science at Northumbria University to be close to Chloe, who was studying music and performance at Newcastle College and doing an apprenticeship in the travel industry.
Both died from multiple injuries that were not survivable even with immediate medical attention, expert evidence concluded.
The Home Office said there's no provision for anyone other than the local registrar to register a death where the cause of it has been decided at an inquest.
A spokesperson said: "The people who were killed or had their lives changed forever in the Manchester Arena attack remain at the forefront of our thoughts.
"The Births and Deaths Registration Act outlines that any death which results in an inquest, including mass casualty events, must be registered by the local registrar on receipt of the Coroner's Certificate.
"Victims' families are able to request a copy of a death certificate following registration."
