Heartbroken mother Veronica Tooley plans to publish a book she hopes will give a Government minister nightmares.

Her son, PC Jeff Tooley, was killed by a hit-and-run driver and she has supported calls to increase sentences for those who cause death by dangerous driving.

Mrs Tooley was furious when Home Office minister Charles Clarke rejected the idea last week.

A consultation paper issued by the Government said it would be "an empty gesture".

The words deeply upset Mrs Tooley, whose 26-year-old son was killed during a routine speed check in Shoreham in April 1999.

She now plans to compile and print a book containing the stories of families whose lives have been shattered by drunk and dangerous drivers.

She said: "It might give Mr Clarke nightmares and it might make him cry but above all I hope it will make him change his mind.

"I want to get people to send me their stories and I will publish them and give the book to Mr Clarke, perhaps by next Christmas.

"It will be a horrific book but Jeffrey's death was horrific and it will probably be thicker than War And Peace."

Mrs Tooley, who lives in Bognor, said she was particularly upset because Mr Clarke had met her in February and given a firm indication that the law would be changed.

Jeff's father Barry Tooley said: "Obviously I am extremely disappointed and the law, as it is, puts money before lives."

The driver who admitted causing the death of PC Tooley by dangerous driving was jailed for seven years at Chichester Crown Court but the sentence was later reduced to five years.