Don’t ignore burning issue

11:38am Monday 21st April 2008

A YEAR ago The Northern Echo launched a campaign to introduce safety regulations for children's pyjamas.

We were inspired to do so by the bravery shown by little Daniel Mitchard-Harrison, who suffered terrible burns when his pyjama bottoms caught fire.

Daniel was at home with his family in North Yorkshire when a spark from the living room fire set his night clothes on fire. Within seconds the two-year-old was engulfed in flames.

The injuries he suffered will leave him scarred for life.

The picture of Daniel's burns that we have published this morning may shock and upset you. It may even make you angry.

If it does, be sure to direct your anger at the shops still selling pyjamas which burn so easily and the politicians seemingly content to allow them to do so.

Legislation introduced in 1985 requires all children's nightdresses and dressing gowns to be flame resistant. Bizarrely, pyjamas are exempt.

The reason? According to the bureaucrats who drew up the legislation pyjamas don't flap as much as a nightdress so are less likely to come into contact with a flame.

To comply with UK "safety" regulations all a manufacturer has to do is stitch in a label which says: Keep away from fire.

Try telling that to a two-year-old who can't read. As any parent knows, youngsters at that age have no regard for their own safety. A pair of pyjamas are just as likely to catch fire as a nightdress.

Daniel's parents hope that the horrifying truth about the flamability of children's pyjamas will prompt action on a European-wide level. Several MEPs have already voiced their support.

But the time for talking is over. The EU needs to act now to close the safety loophole and bring this particular pyjama game to a satisfactory conclusion.

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