Traders to back Echo pyjama campaign

6:03am Monday 19th May 2008

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AN alliance of market traders with more than 35,000 members across the country is about to back The Northern Echo's campaign to ban flammable children's pyjamas.

A leader of the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) has also vowed to fight to get sister organisations in countries across Europe to join calls for a change in EU law.

The Northern Echo launched the Protect Our Children campaign last year, after a toddler from North Yorkshire suffered horrific burns and permanent scarring when his pyjama bottoms caught fire.

An ember from the living room fire set two-year-old Daniel Mitchard-Harrison's clothes alight and he was engulfed in flames within seconds.

The accident would not have happened if the EU had banned the use of flammable material in boys' pyjamas - a law that already applies to girls' night-dresses.

Allan Draper, the honorary national treasurer of the traders' alliance, is to ask next month's meeting of the group's executive committee to back the campaign.

Mr Draper, who is also the chairman of the federation's Darlington branch, said he decided to take action after reading about Daniel's story.

"My grandson, Joseph, will be two in October, and when I found out about what happened to Daniel it terrified me," said Mr Draper, 55.

"He was the same age as my grandson. It really hit home, and I thought I really should try to do something about this. What I'm going to do is ask if it can be put on the agenda for the next meeting of the executive in June.

"This is such an important issue and we have to remind people over and over again about this."

Mr Draper said if the NMTF officially backs the campaign, the group could use its links with traders on the Continent to widen the scope of the campaign.

"We talk to the Dutch, the Italians, and federations across the EU," he said.

"Without a doubt, we will be able to talk to them to ask for their support and, hopefully, they will take on the campaign as well.

"I have talked to traders who sell pyjamas and they are shocked to find out just how dangerous these clothes can be.

"People automatically think that these clothes will be safe and that is exactly how they should be."

Thousands of people from across the world have signed the online Protect Our Children campaign petition. EU ministers promised to consider introducing a change in the law, but no decision has been made yet.

Daniel's grandfather, Andrew Mitchard, from Dalton, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, said: "If we can get the support of such a huge organisation as this, it will be fantastic. We need all the support we can get to get this legislation in place and make sure other children do not get hurt.

"The more people we have behind us, the more likely politicians are to listen to us.

"I am optimistic that we can get the law changed, but it won't happen without the backing of people with real clout. The NMTF has thousands of members across the country so this is really good news."

Mr Mitchard, 51, added: "The law is ridiculous.

"Many stores are selling these pyjamas knowing full well that children have been badly burned. Unless something changes, shops will work within the law rather than do what is morally right.

"If we don't get this changed then other children will be injured. Daniel nearly died - as it is he will carry these scars for the rest of his life. That could so easily have been avoided, and if action is taken it will be stopped from happening again."

North-East MEP Stephen Hughes has vowed to fight to have the new law introduced.

He said last night: "This is excellent news.

"There are all sorts of ways in which we can bring about this change, one is with a change in the law, but equally powerful is action by retailers and consumers themselves.

"I fully welcome the support of the NMTF. The more pressure we put upon the EU law making machine the better. It is moving far too slowly and there is a risk that more children could be injured or even killed unless something is done."

To add your support to the campaign, sign the petition online at thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/campaigns/protectourchildren