Home Secretary David Blunkett must act now to close a legal loophole which allows child killers to get away with murder.

The Argus has been campaigning for three years for something to be done following two horrific cases in Sussex.

Until now the Government has said the delay has been caused by not having a suitable piece of legislation on which to make the changes.

But MPs say it can now be done in the Criminal Justice Bill which was unveiled yesterday in the Queen's Speech.

Currently, where two people are in a room and a child dies, neither can be charged with murder because no one can prove which one did it.

One Brighton couple were accused of murdering children in their care but the case against them collapsed.

Murder charges against Simon and Michelle McWilliam over their adopted son John Smith also failed although they were jailed for cruelty.

Mr Blunkett sounded keen on reform when The Argus presented a dossier to him last week.

He likes to have an image of being a man of action who hates injustice. He has a golden chance to enhance that reputation now.

If he does not act, local MPs must waste no time in tabling amendments to the Bill that will achieve the same aim.