Prime Minister Tony Blair today pledged that action will be taken following the death of a toddler who drowned while his childminder was drunk.

Mr Blair made the promise as the Evening Telegraph went to Downing Street to tackle him on the issue.

He described the death of Joshua Massey-Hodgkinson, who died while with a registered carer, as 'a tragic loss.'

And he revealed that the independent inquiry into the case had the power to make wide-ranging recommendations, which he would not ignore.

Mr Blair was speaking while answering questions from Evening Telegraph readers at 10 Downing Street, one of which was posed by Joshua's grandmother.

Josh was 19-months-old when he died while being cared for by registered childminder Wendy Barlow, at her home in Eightacre Avenue, Sabden, last April. The toddler, who lived with his parents in St Paul's Terrace, Clitheroe, climbed into the bath after Barlow had drunk up to three bottles of wine.

Barlow, formerly from Accrington, is now serving three years for Joshua's manslaughter after pleading guilty at Preston Crown Court.

At court, it was revealed that Barlow was registered by regulatory body Ofsted to look after children, despite admitting to a health-worker to being prone to binge-drinking.

Joshua's grandmother, Cathy Massey, of Clitheroe, launched a campaign in the wake of the sentencing to get tighter legislation governing who can be a childminder -- including an instant refusal for anyone who exhibits signs of drink problems.

She also wants all information on childminders to be made available, after it was revealed Joshua's parents did not know Barlow was not registered to look after children at night.

Last week Ofsted announced it would put childminder inspection reports online, but said the move was not as a result of Josh's case.

The toddler's death is currently being investigated by the independent Lancashire Area Child Protection Committee, and Mr Blair today pledged to act on any recommendations the group delivered.

Mr Blair said: "I am sorry about the tragic loss of Joshua.

The position is that Ofsted have done their own internal investigation over what happened and what lessons can be learnt.

"But that is not the end of the matter.

Ofsted is in touch the Lancashire Area Child Protection Committee who are carrying an independent review of all the facts. their serious case review can make wide-ranging recommendations for Government and all the agencies involved.

"I can promise that neither we nor Ofsted will ignore the findings."

Mrs Massey, who lives in Clitheroe and works in Burnley, said: "This is a very important promise from the Prime Minister. It is very pleasing to hear but now I have to make sure that it actually happens.

"None of us know what the child protection committee report will say but it is clear to me that things need to improve at Ofsted. If someone admits to a drink problem, they shouldn't be allowed to look after children.

"And there should also be clearer information on what the terms of the registration are. We had no idea she couldn't look after children at night, and there was nothing on the Ofsted website that said this was the case.

"If those two steps had been taken, Joshua would still be alive today. Nothing will bring him back but we owe it to him to get this sorted."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "It is clear for all to see the system needs improving and tightening."

Ofsted said it was 'feeding in' the results of its inquiry to the independent investigation.