The mother of a police officer killed by a hit-and-run driver has praised The Argus following a change in the driving laws.

Veronica Tooley thanked the newspaper after the Government announced it was to raise the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving.

She said a campaign, run by the newspaper after the death of PC Jeff Tooley, had been a major factor in the decision to increase the maximum sentence from ten to 14 years.

She said: "I believe 100 per cent that The Argus has had a great deal to do with it. I sometimes never believed it would happen and although the offence will not carry a life sentence it is a big jump."

The Argus backed Mrs Tooley after her son was run down by a van driver in April 1999 while he was carrying out a routine speed check in Shoreham, where he was stationed.

Van driver John Heaton failed to stop and later set fire to the vehicle to destroy the evidence.

He gave himself up and pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving but there was an outcry when the Court of Appeal cut his seven- year prison sentence to five.

Mrs Tooley's campaign took her to the Home Office for a meeting to lobby ministers but despite promises that the law would be reviewed there was no immediate action.

She said: "I saw Charles Clarke, the minister at the time, and I thought he had not taken a blind bit of notice of what we were saying but obviously it has helped."

Mrs Tooley, from Bognor, said revenge had not been the aim of the campaign in memory of her son.

She added: "It is all about having a deterrent so that people think about their driving and what could happen.

"My only worry is that people will know all about the change in the law now but then forget that causing death on the roads could carry 14 years. I hope there will be some publicity to constantly remind them."