To fans of heavy metal legends Iron Maiden it is the centrepiece of every concert.

But the band says it has been forced to drop its anthemic number Hallowed Be Thy Name from its tour after it became embroiled in a legal battle over who wrote it.

Retired rock band manager Barry McKay is taking Steve Harris and Dave Murray, two musicians from Iron Maiden, to court over the song.

He claims it reproduces major parts of another song "Lying in my Shadow", written by musician Brian Quinn, under the name Brian Ingham.