A GRIEVING father whose daughter died after being hit by a car driven by a disqualified asylum seeker is taking his fight for a change in the law to Westminster.

Paul Houston wants a new criminal offence of 'death caused while driving disqualified' to be introduced as a deterrent to motorists who get behind the wheel without a licence.

And he has always insisted he is fighting a motoring law issue, disassociating himself from the asylum issue. His 12-year-old daughter, Amy, died after running out into the road and being hit by a car driven by a failed asylum seeker, who had also been disqualified from driving since arriving in the UK.

Kurdish-Iraqi asylum seeker Aso Mohammed Ibrahim pleaded guilty in court last November to driving while disqualified and without insurance and failing to stop after an accident. He was jailed for four months -- while Paul, of Russia Street, Accrington, says he has been handed a life sentence of suffering.

He has already contacted Hyndburn MP Greg Pope and enlisted his support, and now has the support of Blackburn MP Jack Straw.

Mr Straw's constituency covers the street where Amy was hit -- near to her mother's house and on Ravenglass Close in the Fishmoor estate -- and he is now writing to Transport Secretary Alastair Darling calling for action.

Paul, who works for Corus in Blackburn but has been off work since his daughter's death in November, said: "There is a review of traffic laws going on at the moment and hopefully that will lead to something. If someone is banned from driving, it is for a reason, probably because they aren't fit to drive. So if they are driving, they know they are breaking the law and should be punished. Hopefully, Mr Straw can say something which will make sure people don't suffer in the future in the way we have."

Mr Pope said: "There is clearly a loophole here. I think the Government should look at an offence of causing death by dangerous driving covering people who drive while disqualified and without documents. This should have heavy penalties."