THE Bolton Evening News campaign for dangerous lodges to be filled in will be taken to the House of Commons by Bolton North-east MP David Crausby.

The MP expressed concern with the current lack of legislation aimed at forcing landowners to tackle hazardous stretches of water.

In many cases he said such areas were only put right after a death - what he called an unacceptable situation.

Pressure is mounting on landowners following the tragic drowning of eight-year-old Jaffer Javid over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Jaffer died after falling into Blackshaw Lodge, a murky, debris-strewn area popular with children.

According to Nisaw Ishaq, Jaffer's uncle, youngsters were playing at the scene just days after his death.

And Mr Ishaq said it highlighted the need for urgent action. He added: "It took Jaffer's drowning to show people this spot was there and now it has been made public knowledge it cannot be be vain."

The Bolton Evening News has been backed by the town's MPs and councillors.

And news that the campaign will be taken to the top is sure to be welcomed by families of drowning victims in Bolton and across the country.

Mr Crausby said: "At the moment there is no legislation that can be used to put pressure on landowners to fill in lodges or even just to make them safe.

"It's not an ideal situation and I want to see councils across the country given the power to be able to do order just that.

"I firmly believe that the local authority should be able to make compulsive purchase orders in extreme cases which is something that is not possible at present.

"I fully support the Bolton Evening News in their campaign." Mr Crausby knows more about the dangers of lodges than most since he was in close contact with the family of Jamie Brooks, a 10-year-old who drowned in a lodge off Waters Meeting Road, in Astley Bridge last May.

The MP was successful in pushing for protective measures to be put in place at the lodge.

Yet he said dangerous lodges should be tackled BEFORE somebody is killed.

He said: "Some landowners put up warning signs but often this is only to cover themselves in terms of compensation.

"Compensation is no good if you have lost somebody close to you and we should not have to wait until somebody dies before we take action.

"Legislation should really be in place to prevent deaths by giving Councils the power to order dangerous land is made safe.

"In many cases, filling them in is the most ideal thing to do."