TATTON'S MP has vowed to help Dave Edwards' family secure an apology from his former bosses.

George Osborne said the company owed it to Dave's widow Jan who believes her husband was murdered 10 years ago by the Russian mafia while working for then British Gas in St Petersburg.

"Sometimes an apology, explanation or some recognition of the pain that has been caused helps people," he said. Last week - on the 10th anniversary of the engineer's death - Jan's son Wayne revealed that the family was still awaiting an apology.

"We don't want a bean from them - just that they are sorry," he said.

Dave Edwards was mown down by a police car after a night out in St Petersburg in October 1994.

The former Knutsford pub landlord had been sent to help revamp the Russians' dilapidated network of gas pipes but was soon concerned for his safety in a city plagued by crime and corruption. Mrs Edwards, now 60 and still living in Tabley Grove, Knutsford, partly blames British Gas for his death.

Last week the BG Group said it was inappropriate for them to comment because the company had been broken up three times since 1994.

But Mr Osborne is to write to bosses to demand answers.

"They weren't directly responsible, but they have some responsibility to their employees," he said.

"I want to help the family gain some closure."

amoores@guardiangrp.co.uk