The Northern Echo has launched a campaign urging the Government to change a law that allows less stringent fire safety standards on children's pyjamas than on other nightwear.

The Protect Our Children campaign was launched in conjunction with the family of a two-year-old who suffered horrific burns when his pyjama shorts caught fire at home earlier this year.

A spark from a wood burner set fire to the leg of Daniel Mitchard-Harrison's shorts, and they were ablaze within seconds.

Doctors said only the quick thinking of Daniel's mother, who ripped the blazing clothes off him and put him into a cold bath, saved his life.

Although he was only wearing the clothes for less than a minute, a fifth of his body was burned.

British law requires nightdresses and most dressing gowns to be flame resistant but, historically, pyjamas have been exempt because they are close fitting.

Now the Echo is calling for pyjamas to be covered by the law, as they are in the US and other parts of Europe.

It has launched an online petition and created a section dedicated to its fight on its website.