IT'S been six years since Kelly Hancock was killed in a fire but for his grieving parents the circumstances surrounding his tragic death remain painfully relevant.

Like many young people in Lancaster, Kelly was a student who rented a room in a property that had not been registered as a house in multi-occupancy.

And following a nightmare struggle to find out what exactly happened that fateful night and what measures could have been taken to prevent it, Andrew and Linda Hancock fear it could so easily happen again.

While investigating Kelly's case, Andrew and Linda have come up against an indifferent bureaucratic machine, legal loopholes and authorities that were unwilling to take on board their concerns.

"We have discovered so many inconsistencies, so many loopholes in the law that what happened to Kelly in 1995 could so easily happen again," explained Andrew.

"Right now students are looking for somewhere to live and our advice to them is to check and double check that their accommodation is safe. Has it been inspected, has it got fire and smoke alarms, has it got correct planning permission? The legal loopholes are huge, the risks are not being considered and, as we discovered, if something tragic does happen then there's no redress or accountability."

One alarming aspect of the Hancock's inquiries involved the registration of houses in multiple occupancy (HMOs) They found that many properties that should be registered are not and avoid basic safety legislation. They also found that there is very little enforcement in the Lancaster area.

Andrew added: "When we asked about enforcement we were told that an officer walks along the street and looks to see if a house has different coloured curtains. We couldn't believe what we were hearing. They are keen to crack down on properties in the West End of Morecambe but it seems Lancaster, with all its student bedsits, is largely ignored."

The Hancocks have struggled for years to get answers and even had to threaten court orders to release documents they were legally entitled to. It took three and a half years and the assistance of a Government ombudsman to get their hands on one vital document. It still hurts to think about how their son died but they are determined that his death will not be in vain. Andrew held a protest on the steps of Lancaster Town Hall on Friday and handed out leaflets to people passing by.

"The inconsistencies we've uncovered prove that the current housing legislation is inadequate," he added, "We'd like to see the law changed but despite our efforts the authorities appear unwilling to listen. What we're doing now is raising awareness and letting people know about the dangers. Thankfully we've had the continued support of Kelly's friends, Andrew Thomas and Karl Pearce, we couldn't have carried on without them. We're determined to do what we can to ensure other people don't have to go through the hell we've been through."