THE grieving grandmother of a toddler who died in his drunken childminder's bath was meeting a Government minister today to demand tighter care restrictions.

Cathy Massey hit out after it was revealed Wendy Barlow was allowed to look after children despite telling the regulatory body Ofsted that she was a binge drinker. The call for change was today backed by MPs and the NSPCC.

Barlow, 37, of Eightacre Avenue, Sabden, was yesterday jailed for three years after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Joshua, of St Paul'sTerrace, Clitheroe.

He drowned in her bath in the early hours after she had drunk up to three bottles of wine.

She waited more than an hour to call 999 - washing his clothes and trying to resuscitate him instead - and when police arrived she was unsteady on her feet and slurring her words.

Barlow later fell asleep in the police car, the court heard.

Mrs Massey, who lives in Clitheroe and works in Burnley, has secured a meeting with childrens minister Margaret Hodge to discuss her concerns.

And she pledged that she would not stop until Ofsted changed its rules, accusing of them of allowing a situation which killed Joshua, a 19-month-old toddler who died at Barlow's home in April 2004.

She had agreed to look after Joshua overnight, despite only being licensed to care for children in the day. Joshua's mother, Emma, has already blasted Ofsted for not telling her of the restriction and Prime Minister Tony Blair has also vowed to look into the situation.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, who helped arrange the meeting between Mrs Massey and Children's Minister Margaret Hodge today, has called for a public inquiry into the case. He said: "I think it is a disgrace that Barlow admitted to a drink problem but was still allowed to register as a childminder. Parents are supposed to be able to trust Ofsted."

A spokesman for the NSPCC said: "We have asked for Ofsted to ensure that more information is released to parents and we have been told this is now happening."