THE heartbroken parents of seven-year-old Emily Jones are pleading with the public to stop using her images in connection with recent protests, saying it is causing them 'incredible upset'.

Markland Hill School pupil Emily died after a knife attack at Queens Park on March 22.

She had been playing on a scooter when she was stabbed in the random attack.

The youngster's image has been circulating on social media against the recent Black Lives Movement protests.

Her parents said that Emily loved everyone regardless of race or beliefs and to see her picture being used this way, they said, was causing huge distress as they live through the 'nightmare that is life' without their daughter.

Today, her parents Sarah and Mark, said: “We are aware that many people are using the picture we released of our daughter Emily, when we publically paid tribute to her following the worst day of our lives, as part of recent protests and campaigns.

“Today we kindly ask the public to stop using the picture of our Emily from one of her days at school.

“We hold this picture dear to our hearts and to see it being used in this way is incredibly upsetting – Emily loved everything and everyone, regardless of their race, gender or beliefs. As we’ve said before, she was beautiful inside and out and had a heart as big as her smile.

“We can’t thank people enough for the support we have received as we continue to live through the nightmare that is life without Emily, but we’re still grieving over the loss of our beautiful daughter and seeing her picture being used as part of recent protests is causing us huge distress.

“A woman has been charged with the murder of our daughter and we want to ensure that we respect the legal process and ask people not to speculate over the circumstances surrounding her death.

“We thank you for your support with this matter and hope that you can respect our wishes. We wish everyone health and happiness at this uncertain time.”

Eltiona Skana, 30, formerly of Turnstone Road, Bolton, has been charged with murder and possession of a bladed article.

She is due to appear in court for a plea and pre-trial hearing on September 15.

Skana is currently at Rampton Hall secure hospital in Nottinghamshire.

Earlier this month, the mother of murdered fusilier Lee Rigby called for his memory to stop being used to "fuel arguments against the Black Lives Matter protests".

In a post on the Lee Rigby Foundation Facebook page, Lyn Rigby said: "Lee proudly served his country to protect the rights and freedoms of all members of this great melting pot of a nation.

"Seeing his image used to cause hate of any kind, especially for those exercising their freedoms in protest against this issue, hurts."