A review of existing laws surrounding child pillion riders has been promised by the Government following the death of a boy aged eight.

Eastbourne Tory MP Nigel Waterson met Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman to discuss introducing a Parliamentary Bill to protect child motorbike passengers.

Mr Ladyman agreed to a root-and-branch review of existing legislation after Mr Waterson explained the circumstances surrounding the death of Sean Pearce-Weston.

Sean, of Shanklin Close, Eastbourne, died from head injuries following a crash on the A27 Pevensey bypass near Eastbourne in May last year.

His mother, Cassie Pearce, has collected a 3,000-signature petition asking for laws to be introduced banning under-16s from riding pillion.

She enlisted the support of Mr Waterson who has been pressing ministers for reform.

He has stopped short of calling for a blanket ban on children riding pillion. Instead he is proposing the legislation be called Sean's Bill and outlined three key aspects to it.

Firstly, he said there must be clear consent from parents if their child is to ride pillion on another person's bike, backed up by stiff penalties.

Secondly, he said a child must wear a properly-fitting and specially-designed child's helmet after it emerged Sean's headwear was ill-fitting.

Finally, he demanded that regulations governing the design of footrests should make it clear that very young children should not ride pillion and footrests should not be modified to cater for them.