FAMILIES who blame overhead electricity pylons for causing leukaemia in children have stepped up their campaign to get legislation introduced which recognises the dangers.

Ray Studholme from Little Lever, who blames electro-magnetic fields for the death of his 13-year-old son Simon, and Bill Singleton, the landlord who quit his Radcliffe pub blaming overhead pylons for four years of sickness, joined families and experts to lobby MPs in the house of Commons. Mr Singleton and his wife, Margaret, quit their jobs at the Sparking Clog pub in Radcliffe in August 1994. Mr Singleton claimed that he suffered severe headaches and movement under his skin as a result of 'rays' from electricity pylons.

Mr Singleton and Mr Studholme were joined by anxious families from Northampton, who claim electro-magnetic fields had triggered off leukaemia in their children.

Mr Studholme and his wife, Denise, are one of three families granted legal aid to sue the electricity giant NORWEB. Mr Singleton said he was pleased by the response from the Labour MPs who called the meeting - John Battle for Leeds West and Paddy Tipping Sherwood.

"They were very encouraging and promised to try and arrange another meeting with many more MPs, including Tories," he said.

At the meeting, Mr Singleton called for local authorities to be given the power to refuse applications to build schools and houses near to electricity supplies.

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