A GRIEVING mother whose toddler died after being strangled by a blind cord is welcoming a parliamentary motion backing her awareness campaign.

The Argus reported how Newport’s Joshua Wakeham, 22 months, died in January after becoming trapped in a beaded looped cord while looking out of his bedroom window.

The inquest into his death is due to be heard today. Joshua’s devastated mum Tracey Ford bravely spoke to the Argus last month, determined not to let a similar incident happen to anyone else.

She also contacted Newport West MP Paul Flynn, who brought an early day motion in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

Ms Ford said: “It is great - he is showing support. This is exactly what we wanted to do in the first place.”

Mr Flynn’s early day motion urged a government initiative to publicise the dangers of blind cords following Joshua’s death.

It states his distress at the recent increase of these tragedies reported by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, including three deaths being caused by looped blind cords in January alone which includes the death of Joshua.

The early day motion states: “This House…regrets the slow progress by industry in introducing cords with safety features and urges a government initiative to publicise the serious danger to the lives of children from the 250 million cords in British homes.”

Mr Flynn added: “The case is heart breaking. The industry should bring out safer cords.

“There’s new regulations coming in from Europe within a year but there will still be a problem with existing cords.

“We are asking the government to start a campaign to make everyone knows of the dangers.”

EDITORIAL COMMENT: MP is right to raise blind cords issue

WELL done to Newport West MP Paul Flynn for raising the issue of window blind cords in the corridors of power.

Regular Argus readers will be aware of the awful tragedy that befell one Newport family earlier this year.

Toddler Joshua Wakeham, just 22 months old, died after becoming entangled in window blind cords in his bedroom.

What sounds like a horrendous one-off has actually claimed 11 lives since 2010, as we reported last month.

Joshua’s mum Tracey bravely told her story to the Argus last month and has since made a number of media appearances to raise awareness of the dangers of looped blind cords.

Now Mr Flynn, a veteran campaigner on issues such as car bull bars and easing drugs legislation, has taken up the cause.

As well as appearing on national television to talk about Joshua’s death, Mr Flynn has also raised the issue in the House of Commons.

He wants to see the Government run a campaign to highlight the potential dangers of window blind cords. And Mr Flynn is also calling for manufacturers to speed up the introduction of safety features.

Mr Flynn’s actions are precisely what good constituency MPs should be doing – standing up for the people they represent and supporting them on the issues that matter to them.

We hope his campaign succeeds.

Eleven deaths spread over more than two years may not be a huge number in the grand scheme of things – but it is 11 too many.

There should be no more tragedies like Joshua’s Wakeham’s death.

And we hope Mr Flynn’s intervention brings such a prospect even closer.