A MAJOR overhaul of Britain's childcare system has been triggered by the death of a toddler who drowned in the bath at his childminder's home.

An independent report into the death of Joshua Massey-Hodgkinson has concluded that his death in April 2004 could have been prevented, even though it could not have been predicted.

The 19-month-old, from Clitheroe, died at while childminder Wendy Barlow babysat at her home in Sabden.

And it said tighter regulation and guidance for agencies working with childminders were needed after the childminder's binge drinking was not properly investigated before she was licensed.

Ofsted, the body in charge of registering childminders, today admitted it had made mistakes and said new rules would take effect from October.

Joshua's family today welcomed the 10 recommendations made by the Lancashire Area Child Protection Committee as a victory for the Lancashire Evening Telegraph-backed 'Justice for Joshua' campaign.

The report revealed:

l Claims by a health visitor that Barlow, now serving a three-year sentence for manslaughter, was prone to binge-drinking were not fully investigated;

l Ofsted was told by Barlow's GP that she drank double the recommended amount of alcohol for women per week and had admitting on once occasion to drinking two bottles of wine

l That her mother died of alcohol abuse, and she admitted drinking to forget about her problems, including the pressures on her marriage

.