THE death of a toddler at a Belmont nursery last year has prompted an MP to press for new laws. Alex Rae died last year at the Hilltop Bunnies Nursery run by Carolyn Brown. The 20-month old boy drowned in a rainwater-filled tarpaulin covering an ornamental pond.

And magistrates recently fined Brown £4,000 for breaching safety regulations, looking after too many children and failing to have enough qualified staff.

Alex lived in Withnell Fold, near Chorley and now Chorley MP, Lindsay Hoyle is spearheading a campaign to improve child care safety.

Today Mr Hoyle is introducing a Ten Minute Rule Bill in the Commons in a bid to tighten up on the registration and inspection of nurseries.

"There should never have been a pond in the grounds of a nursery in the first place and had the legislation been more specific then this establishment would not have been allowed to open with such an apparent danger in the grounds," said Mr Hoyle.

Mr Hoyle says a nursery should not be granted a registration until a full inspection has been carried out and social services are convinced there is no threat to children.

He also believes the 1989 Children Act is inadequate and local authorities should have a legally binding obligation to carry out checks and procedures.

In introducing his Children's Nurseries (Safety) Bill, Mr Hoyle is planning to offer proof that the Department of Health has previously encouraged a relaxation in regulations in order to increase the number of places in nurseries.

And he is calling for more frequent and unannounced inspections of nurseries, instead of the three weeks notice of a visit social services currently have to give.

Since Mr Hoyle and Alex's mother, Catriona, started their campaign, more than 100 MPs have signed his Early Day Motion calling for a review of legislation.

And the Government has issued a consultation document on the regulation of early education and day care.

"As the number of places in nurseries increase it is essential that the quality of nursery care is reviewed and that people are reassured that everything is being done to look after the interests of their children," said Mr Hoyle.

"I hope my proposals will be taken on board so that baby Alex Rae will not have lived and died in vain and so that those day nurseries failing to meet standards can be eradicated, leaving the ones who are genuinely committed to caring for children."

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