Prime Minister Tony Blair has been urged to help a campaign to change the law after the death of teenage dancer Aimee Wellock.

Aimee's parents, Alan and Jackie Wellock, have asked Mr Blair to consider stiffening laws in their bid to protect similar victims of assaults.

Aimee, 15, died from a rare heart condition in June last year after running from a gang who had attacked her at Chellow Dene in Bradford.

Claire Carey, 19, and two girls aged 17 and 15, are now free after they were found guilty of affray and given sentences ranging from youth custody to a supervision order. They had convictions for manslaughter quashed by the Court of Appeal which decided they could not be guilty of that offence because they could not have foreseen Aimee was vulnerable.

The Wellocks, of Canford Drive, Allerton, Bradford, have started a campaign for a change in the law.

They have written to Mr Blair, and his wife Cherie, to ask for their help and pointing out that if a child suffers from health problems, like heart disease or asthma, and are subjected to an assault which leads to their death, the attackers are not to blame because they could not see their victim had anything wrong with them.

The couple pleaded with the Prime Minister: "Please give it some consideration. We need some kind of campaign to try and get back some control over the anti-social behaviour by some people of this country. We need stiffer laws and fitting punishments and sentencing which should be a sufficient deterrent.

"It's too late for Aimee, but if it keeps another family from the torment and heartache we had to suffer, it will be worth it."

The Prime Minister's office has acknowledged the letter and promised he will reply.

Mrs Wellock said today: "The acknowledgement we have received says Mr Blair is sorry about our loss. "Everybody says they are sorry, but what are they going to do about it?"

The Wellocks have also raised concerns with the Prime Minister about lack of information they were given about Aimee's case by prosecuting authorities.

And they praised the Telegraph & Argus for informing them of things the Crown Prosecution Service "either didn't feel we should be informed about, or there was no mechanism within their procedures to support the families of victims."

They added: "What really makes us angry is the fact we were not told of the girls' release at the time they were released."

The Prime Minister's Office said: "Correspondence between him and individual members of the public is private, but he will respond to the family."

e-mail: steve.wright@bradford.newsquest.co.uk