COASTGUARDS in Scotland have come under fresh criticism for their part in the rescue attempt of a Leigh dad and two sons who died in a boating tragedy 12 months ago.

Leigh MP Andy Burnham is calling for a fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of Shaun Ridley, 37, and his sons Steven, 15, and Michael, 13, of Abbey Lane, after a top Government Select Committee examined the circumstances behind the tragedy.

The trio were killed after a huge wave swamped their speedboat on Loch Ryan, on July 12 last year. The Loch is used by high-speed ferries to Northern Ireland.

They were in a party of five with Shaun's father, Brian and his lifelong friend Harry Houghton, who were rescued after clinging to the upturned boat for an agonising four hours.

An investigation into the accident by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) found a number of errors had been made by staff on the day of the tragedy -- which included: A coastguard member of staff typing in the wrong co-ordinates for where the accident happened, which resulted in the rescue helicopter being sent to the wrong place and finding the Ridley's 47 minutes later.

The House of Commons Transport Select Committee, who were looking into the general state of the Maritime Coastguard Agency across the UK, concluded that on the day of the tragedy, the Clyde coastguard were understaffed.

Mr Burnham has campaigned tirelessly to get the Scottish authorities to hold a public inquiry. And now, 12 months after the tragedy, he believes the report by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee strengthens his case.

Mr Burnham said: "The fact that a Government committee has used the Ridley tragedy as a case study into the state of the Maritime Coastguard Agency validates that a fatal accident inquiry has to be held. The whole truth has not yet come out so this report by the committee helps us in that process.

"The report also confirms that there was an understaffing problem with the search and rescue team on the day of the tragedy. I will be sending a copy of this report to the Scottish authorities."