Politicians across the UK have backed a Sussex MP in calling for a pioneering child kidnap alert system to be rolled out across the country.

Child Alert, based on a US scheme to help find missing children within hours of their disappearance, is due to be piloted in Sussex from Tuesday, thanks to The Argus.

Conservative MP for Shoreham and East Worthing Tim Loughton has welcomed the development and has tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament, calling for the Government to consider similar schemes across the country.

Since it was put down on Monday, 27 MPs from all the main political parties have put their names to the motion.

Mr Loughton aims for at least 100 MPs to give their backing.

He drew up the motion after Adur councillor Mike Mendoza told him about America's Missing Broadcast Emergency Response scheme, or Amber Alert, following the deaths of Soham schoolgirls Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells.

Amber Alert was started in Texas in 1996 and now operates in 15 states.

Within hours of a child going missing, television and radio programmes are interrupted with news flashes and messages are beamed on to motorway signs calling for help from the public.

In California, 11 children have been rescued since July, thanks largely to the scheme.

Following an article in The Argus, Sussex Police decided to pilot the scheme here.

The project has been backed by Sarah Payne's mother Sara, who described it as a fantastic initiative to tackle paedophiles.

Mr Loughton said that although the Sussex pilot was welcome, it would be more effective to see Child Alert up and running over a wider area.

He said: "I want the Home Office to take a closer look at this system. It will be difficult to assess the success of the scheme on a county basis as a wider area may be needed.

"One of the key aspects of the US system is that messages are flashed on to motorway warning signs.

"But as there are only two miles of motorway in Sussex. That method may not be used effectively."

Among those to back the motion is Conservative Eastbourne MP Nigel Waterson.

He said: "It is excellent news that Sussex Police will be piloting this scheme and I hope that it will soon be rolled out across the country.

"I believe the Government should be encouraging more police forces to embark on such schemes."