THE FAMILY of tragic tot Levi Bleasdale have been hit by fresh tragedy after the toddler's grandfather collapsed and died.

Alan Bleasdale, 45, died suddenly of a heart attack on Friday the same day the driver of the car which killed Levi, Mohammed Hussain, was jailed for just 12 weeks.

The family are now trying to cope with both the shock of the lenient sentence and preparing for Alan's funeral tomorrow following his sudden death.

The shock news came as the family said a new law, which could have seen the driver whose car killed the youngster jailed for up to five years, could not come soon enough.

The new Road Safety Bill currently before Parliament will create a new offence of causing death by careless driving, with a penalty of up to five years' imprisonment.

The new law was proposed following a Telegraph-backed campaign after Blackburn girl Amy Houston was killed by a banned driver in 2003.

The Bill will also create a new offence of causing death when driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured, with a penalty of up to two years' imprisonment.

Levi died in an accident close to Burnley College on Ormerod Road last September as her mother Kirsty, 21, pushed her five-month-old daughter Brogan across the road in front of the toddler.

Hussain, 26, of Thurston Street, Burnley, who admitted careless driving not punishable by a prison sentence failing to stop at the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident when he appeared at court last week, also had no driving licence.

The court heard after the crash he panicked and fled to Colne where he checked into a hotel before handing himself in to police several days later.

He was jailed for 12 weeks for the failing to stop and failing to report after an accident, but not for the careless driving charge which is currently only punishable by a fine.

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, told the court a decision had been made to charge him with careless driving rather than death by dangerous driving because the more serious charge could not be justified by the evidence.

Levi's relatives have slammed the 12-week jail sentence handed to hit-and-run driver Hussain, who ran down the toddler in his stolen, uninsured VW Golf.

Levi's family were today joined by Burnley MP Kitty Ussher who hit out at the lenient' jail term and said action was being taken to tackle drivers who caused death on the roads.

Mrs Ussher has written to Home Secretary Charles Clarke about the prison sentence.

Levi's gran Cathy Ryan said: "Hopefully this new law will come in as soon as possible so that drivers who did what Hussain did to our Levi will be properly punished. This can't come soon enough and it has our full support."

Mrs Ussher added: "I'm sure everyone is appalled by the leniency of this sentence.

"Levi's death was a tragedy that shocked the whole town and our thoughts and prayers remain with all her family.

"I have already been in contact with the Home Office about the matter and shall be writing to the Home Secretary to express my concern.

"The Government takes this issue extremely seriously and is responding by introducing tough new offences to deal with drivers who cause death on the road.

"The new Road Safety Bill currently before Parliament will create a new offence of causing death by careless driving, with a penalty of up to five years' imprisonment. The Bill will also create a new offence of causing death when driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured. I shall certainly be supporting the Bill."

A road safety group said today it was "appalled" by the sentence given to Hussain.

Mary Williams OBE, chief executive of Brake, said: "Brake is appalled that this driver has been handed such a paltry sentence by the courts after killing a three-year-old child, particularly one who has shown so little regard for the law or the safety of other road users.

"The sentence does not even begin to reflect the devastation he has caused the Bleasdales.

"Mohammed Hussain will be on the streets in only a few months, while they have been given a life sentence.

"Brake is calling for tough laws to tackle illegal and hit-and-run killer drivers they should automatically face a charge equivalent to causing death by dangerous driving, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison."

Mark Gilmore, operations manager at Pennine division police said: "Levi's family were clearly devastated at the death of their little girl and our sympathies remain with them.

"We have worked closely with the family throughout the investigation and remain committed to ensuring our family liaison officers continue to provide support.

"We would welcome any new moves which help to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the roads."