CAMPAIGNS do not always achieve swift results. Sometimes they require persistence and that has been the case with the campaign to make landlords legally responsible for installing carbon monoxide detectors.

The Northern Echo launched "The Silent Killer" campaign 20 years ago after 19-year-old student Anne Brennan died in digs in Durham City.

Similar tragedies had happened elsewhere in the country and the way forward seemed clear and relatively simple as far as we were concerned.

Carbon monoxide detectors could be fitted easily, quickly and cheaply so why not use the law to make landlords keep their tenants safe?

Up until now, the politicians hadn't shared our view that legislation was necessary. Instead, successive governments – Labour and then the Coalition – have fudged the issue with talk of better publicity to raise awareness of the problem.

Suddenly, that has changed, with ministers today announcing legislation which will require carbon monoxide detectors to be fitted in all "high risk rooms", where a solid fuel heating system is installed. Landlords who fail to comply will be fined up to £5,000.

After decades of prevarication, the new rules will be in force by October this year, with the Government estimating that up to 36 deaths and 1,375 injuries will be prevented annually.

It is, of course, too late for the family of Anne Brennan, who have admirably allowed their own tragic story to be used to highlight the aims of the campaign.

We hope they find comfort in today's announcement of new legislation, and the knowledge that their efforts will help save other lives.

The pity is that it took ministers so long to take such a straightforward step.