Hundreds back our safety campaign (From The Northern Echo)

Hundreds back our safety campaign

8:56am Thursday 19th April 2007 in Protect Our Children

NEARLY 800 people across the world have signed our petition demanding children's pyjamas are made safer throughout Europe.

The petition, which is being collected by The Northern Echo online and by post, was launched last week.

We are calling for all children's nightwear to be made flame- resistant after a toddler from North Yorkshire suffered terrible burns. Daniel Mitchard-Harrison, two, suffered burns to his legs and buttocks when his pyjama shorts set alight. He will be scarred for life.

After the accident, it emerged the shorts Daniel was wearing complied with the law - even though they could be completely alight within seconds.

Due to an anomaly in the law, girls' nightdresses and dressing gowns have to be flame-resistant, but pyjamas do not.

Daniel's family decided to share his story in the hope it would bring about a change in the law and help save lives.

After Daniel appeared in The Northern Echo, his story was told on regional television and on GMTV nationwide.

Among the people who have signed the petition are:

* Five Members of the European Parliament; Stephen Hughes, MEP for the North-East; Glenis Willmott, MEP for the East Midlands, Catherine Stihler MEP for Scotland, Linda McAvan, MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber and Michael Cashman, former EastEnders actor and now MEP for the West Midlands.

* Vera Baird, MP for Redcar, who has written to the Secretary of State at the Department for Trade and Industry and to the Minister for Children, Roberta Blackman-Woods, MP for the City of Durham, and Dari Taylor, MP for Stockton South.

* About ten councillors in Darlington, including Darlington council leader John Williams, who yesterday urged his staff to sign up.

* People living as far away as the US, Hong Kong and Barbados.

* Several television journalists who have covered the story, including Carol Malia and Lara Rostron, from BBC Look North, Pam Royle, from Tyne Tees, and Matt Arnold, from GMTV.

Peter Barron, Editor of The Northern Echo, said last night: "I would like to thank everyone who has supported this campaign to date.

"There is a very good chance we can bring about a change in the law, so please keep up the pressure and urge others to show their support."