THE family of a 12-year-old Gwent girl who died in an horrific minibus crash are demanding a review of the "insulting" sentence handed to the driver of the bus.

Jasmine Allen's mother, aunt and uncle will present a petition of more than 2,000 names to the Crown Prosecution Service, urging them to push for an increase on the £250 fine punishment and six -month driving ban given to Christopher Cushing, 38, who was convicted of careless driving.

The youngster was killed when the minibus taking her and other pupils to Newbridge Comprehensive School crashed and overturned on the A472 on May 16 last year.

The relatives say they were devastated at the end of Cushing's trial in May this year and vowed not to give up in their search for "justice."

They want the CPS to ask the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith to look into the sentence.

The schoolgirl's mother Anne Leach said she was overwhelmed by the groundswell of support from members of the public, with people from across South East Wales signing their names in support.

Ms Leach, 42, of Herbert Terrace, Hafodyrynys said: "I will keep up this fight until I feel justice has seen to be done. It can't stop here.

"That sentence is an insult to my daughter's name."

Jasmine's aunt, Caroline Tucker, 45, who is behind the huge 2,200-name petition, added: "To sit through that court case and then hear that sentence was devastating. The number of people who have signed this petition shows the strength of feeling."

Cushing, of Ash Place, Bargoed, was driving the minibus as a favour for a friend who was a contractor of Caerphilly council.

He was cleared of causing Jasmine's death by dangerous driving.

He also faces charges of driving without a licence and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, which will be heard in a magistrates' court.

Since Jasmine's death the family have led calls to increase safety measures onboard school busses.

They welcomed news earlier this year that the council intend to introduce universal identity cards for all school transport drivers to reassure parents.

A CPS spokeswoman said they would accept the petition from the family but added there was little they could do as the conviction of careless driving is not one the Attorney General can review as unduly lenient under the Criminal Justice Act 1988.