The family of teenager Donna Healey, who was last seen alive more than 16 years ago, hope today to get the go-ahead to finally lay her to rest.

An inquest into the death of the 18-year-old from Bradford, who disappeared in March 1988, was due to be opened in Leeds.

Her family is hoping that West Yorkshire Coroner David Hinchliff will release Donna's body for a funeral to take place at last.

The teenager, whose death is being treated as suspicious, was last seen alive when she appeared before Leeds magistrates on a prostitution charge. She had been working as a prostitute in the Chapeltown area of Leeds.

Her partly-clothed and mummified body was found almost three years later in an overgrown garden in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, but it was not until last year that the remains were identified following DNA breakthroughs.

A DNA sample was obtained from her body which was matched with saliva from her mother, Lorraine Wilkinson.

The cause of her death has not been established but is being treated as suspicious because of the circumstances in which she was found.

Police believe Donna probably died in 1988 and her body then kept in an airtight environment before being dumped.

An inquest had not been able to be held because the body had not been identified.

Detective Inspector Chris Binns, who is leading the investigation into Donna's death, was expected to give evidence about the inquiry at today's hearing.

Officers have been following up more than 20 calls from people with information about Donna, whose family lived in Roxby Street, Little Horton, after an appeal on BBC's Crimewatch programme.

Forensic experts are continuing to examine Donna's clothing, along with particles of grass and dirt recovered from where her body was found.

Toxicology tests revealed last month that there were no traces of morphine or other drugs in Donna's body.