Children give support to Echo's campaign (From The Northern Echo)

Children give support to Echo's campaign

10:37am Wednesday 14th May 2008 in

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YOUNGSTERS at a North-East school have vowed to write to EU ministers to call for a ban on the use of flammable materials in boys' pyjamas.

Last year, The Northern Echo launched the Protect Our Children campaign after two-yearold Daniel Mitchard-Harrison suffered horrific burns when his night clothes caught fire.

European legislation states that only non-flammable fabric can be used to make girls' nightdresses - but the same rule does not apply to boys' pyjamas.

Thousands of people have signed The Northern Echo's online petition in support of the campaign, and ministers in Brussels are considering changing the law.

This week, pupils at Mowden Infant School, in Darlington, were visited by Cyndi Hughes, a Darlington councillor who has been elected by the North-East Regional Assembly to represent the region on the EU's Committee of the Regions, in Brussels.

Coun Hughes - who along with her husband, MEP Stephen Hughes, is a prominent supporter of the Protect Our Children Campaign - spoke to the pupils about the issue's importance.

"The children promised to take special care around open flames but especially when they were in their night clothes," said Coun Hughes.

"They immediately grasped the concept of protection for every child - that it wasn't enough to simply worry about Darlington kids, English kids, British kids - and they decided that they would campaign for safety for all the children of Europe.

"Year two pupils have now promised to write letters to their MEP to ask him to help to get the law changed."

Chris Taylor, headteacher at Mowden, said: "We all agree that getting the law changed is a good idea, but this will also be a good exercise for the children to help them get involved in the community.

"They are picking up on a very important issue."

Two-year-old Daniel was at home with his family in Dalton, near Thirsk, when a spark from the living room fire landed on his pyjama bottoms.

He was engulfed in flames within seconds and suffered severe burns to 15 per cent of his body. Daniel's mother, Liza, said she planned to write to pupils at Mowden to thank them.

"This is fantastic news and exactly the kind of support we need," she said.

Ministers will meet later this summer to discuss a change in legislation.