AN MP campaigning for motorists involved in accidents while banned from driving to receive tougher sentences has won cross-party support in Parliament.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope launched an early day motion in the House of Commons in May, after promising to support grieving father Paul Houston in his bid to get a change in the law.

Paul's daughter Amy, 11, of Ravenglass Close, Blackburn, died after being hit by a car being driven by a failed Iraqi asylum seeker in Newfield Drive.

He had twice been banned from driving in this country but was not charged with causing Amy's death, because there was no evidence that his driving caused her death.

He was jailed for four months - the maximum sentence would have been six months - for driving while disqualified, without insurance and failing to stop after an accident. If the motion put forward by Mr Pope becomes law, disqualified drivers involved in accidents while behind the wheel would face a charge of 'causing death or injury while driving disqualified' and lengthy jail terms.

At the start of the summer recess, 82 MPs had signed the motion, a figure Mr Pope intends to build on when Parliament reconvenes in the autumn.

He said: "I am pleased with the support I've had so far. It is cross-party and a lot of MPs have written to me to say how strongly they feel about it."

Among those to add their support is Alex Salmond, former leader of the Scottish National Party, Blackburn-born MP Ann Cryer, Darwen with Rossendale MP Janet Anderson, Chorley's Lindsay Hoyle and Pendle's Gordon Prentice

Mr Houston, who lives in Russia Street, Accrington, said: "I am pleased so many MPs have given it their support and I hope more will do later this year.

"I hope to keep the pressure up by talking to other groups, because the one thing I hope will come from Amy's death is that no-one else has to suffer like we had to. The sense of injustice is still with us.

"The man in the car is now free. Amy is gone forever."