The parents of three young women killed by a drink driver travelled to London today to press for a new 'driver homicide' charge.

In August 2000 the women were killed when drink-driver Allan Jackson ploughed into them while fleeing police in Huddersfield.

Jackson was trying to evade police after being caught kerb-crawling in the West Yorkshire town's red light district on August 28.

He careered onto the pavement, killing Susan Briggs, 30, of Gilesgate Moor, Durham City, Angela Ovington, 28, a teacher originally from Birtley near Chester-le-Street and 27-year-old Victoria Fisher, from Rochdale.

A fourth friend, Louise Tinkler, 27, also from Chester-le-Street, narrowly escaped with her life after leaping over a wall. Jackson, who had been drinking all day, was jailed for eight years after admitting causing deaths by dangerous driving.

Susan's parents, Pauline and Dennis Briggs, together with Beatrice and Ray Ovington, handed in a 3,600 signature petition to Minister of State Keith Bradley, demanding tougher new sentences for 'driver homicide'.

The latest move comes after the victim's families delivered a 6,500 signature petition to the then Home Secretary Jack Straw last year. The Briggs' also joined road accident awareness group Roadpeace, in a protest outside the Houses of Parliament last year.

Mrs Briggs said: "None of us could imagine the depths of despair we've been to. On top of our grief is the injustice of Jackson's sentence.

"We've been told he will serve four years, four months of an eight years sentence.

"Our aim is to have vehicle homicide brought in, so there will be no controversy over what they are charged with.

"We want to see drink driving as being premeditated. When he was sentenced the investigating officer said it was a good sentence the way the law stands at the moment - that says it all."

The Briggs and Ovingtons had an appeal to introduce the US-style vehicle homicide charge turned down by Jack Straw last year.