TOUGHER laws to stamp out deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning were demanded by an MP yesterday, as part of The Northern Echo's Silent Killer campaign.

Fraser Kemp, Labour MP for Houghton and Washington East, pressed for changes to ensure landlords are legally responsible for the dangers posed by old gas fires and boilers. In a parliamentary motion, he also urged ministers to do more to warn householders about the risk of death from poisoning.

A constituent of Mr Kemp, 19-year-old Anne Brennan, a student from Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, died of gas poisoning, in digs in Durham City in 1995.

An inquest ruled she was unlawfully killed and her landlord was fined £10,000 for failing to ensure the boiler in the property was properly maintained.

Recent figures have shown that fewer people are dying from carbon monoxide poisoning, as the message about the dangers of old gas fires and boilers hits home.

Fresh regulations have come into force, tightening up the design requirements for gas boilers in new properties.

Mr Kemp said: "I am pleased the Government has introduced new measures against neglectful landlords. But the fact remains we cannot allow cases like this to happen again."

Anne's parents, Hugh and Margaret, praised Mr Kemp's campaign. Mrs Brennan said: "Anne wanted to be a Labour MP and it is possible she would be in Parliament with Fraser now. She would have been campaigning just as hard."