The mother of singer Kirsty MacColl says her campaign to discover the truth about her daughter's death has made progress following top-level talks with Mexican government officials.

Jean MacColl has returned from a week-long visit to Mexico City where she met the country's Attorney General and representatives of Government ministries.

She is now hopeful the death of her 41-year-old daughter who grew up in Selsdon will be reviewed by the Mexican judiciary in the autumn.

"The Mexican Government are trying very hard to put things right and they hope to have a resolution by October," she said.

Ms MacColl disputes the findings of a court that an inexperienced deckhand was at the controls of the motorboat which struck and killed her daughter as she swam off the Mexican coast in December 2000.

Jose Cen Yam was found guilty of negligent homicide, and fined just £61.

Ms MacColl is demanding that motorboat owner Guillermo Gonzalez Nova, who was on board, be brought before the court to answer questions. Gonzalez Nova is one of Mexico's most prominent businessmen.

"I am not asking for any money. I just want him to stand up and speak the truth," she said.

"That is the reason why I have been doing this for five years and I will go on until the end."

The news coincides with a concert which will celebrate the singer's life and music.

Ruskin House's 15th annual Folk and Blues Festival takes place this Saturday at the venue in Coombe Road, Croydon. Jean MacColl hopes to attend.

Organiser Garry Davis said: "There has never been a concert in this town to celebrate the music of Kirsty and we wanted to put that right. We are also showing our support for the campaign of Jean MacColl to seek justice for her daughter."

The event, from midday until 11pm, includes folk and blues music and Irish dancing. Croydon singer Pete Baldwin will perform some of MacColl's best-known work including Fairytale of New York.

A donation will be made to the Justice For Kirsty campaign, which has been offered a promotional stall, and the event will also raise funds for Ruskin House, a trades union club, and venue for arts, music and a playgroup, which is more than £50,000 in debt.

For tickets, priced £3, call 01737 553493.