The death of a toddler who overdosed on her mum's methadone is to be raised in Parliament.

Ryedale MP John Greenway is asking how a 19-month-old girl was able to open the child resistant top on a medicine bottle.

Tragic tot Sadie Milson drank an overdose of the heroin replacement drug after mum Fiona Milson left the container lying on a kitchen table at the family home in Malton.

It is thought little Sadie may have been able to unscrew the child-resistant lid.

Mr Greenway said he was "disturbed" to hear that one-in-five children as young as Sadie could open the bottles.

"We must do something to make the bottles safer," he said.

"I will be asking the Minister when the law governing these bottles was last reviewed."

Drug manufacturers creating new containers must simply show that 80 per cent of youngsters are unable to open them.

Evidence presented to Leeds Crown Court in Milson's case showed some toddlers as young as 18-months could tackle the "hold down, screw off" tops.

Methadone itself is a green surgery liquid which would be enticing to any child able to access it.

Mr Greenway, who will be raising the issue with Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, said: "I think we should be doing something to make the situation safer.

"Certainly it is something that needs to be examined - this is a national issue.

"If 20 per cent of children can open these bottles how are parents to know whether their child may be one of them?

"There should be a review into whether the security of the child resistant lids is adequate. This is a sad, tragic case and a terrible loss for the mother too.

"Something should be done to prevent tragedies like this happening to other children."

David Jenkins, products safety adviser with RoSPA, said the tops, called CRCs, or child resistant closures, were not 'child-proof'.

"There have been a few court cases like this where children have been able to open the bottles," he said.

"If 80 per cent of children cannot open them, then they are allowed to be used for all sorts of drugs and dangerous substances, including methadone.

"The current test set down by the Consumer Protection Act is to ensure that 80 per cent of children cannot open them - and that 80 per cent of adults can."

Drugs manufacturers test the new closures on 200 children and adults before the product can be marketed.

Mr Jenkins said RoSPA is campaigning for locked cabinets to be placed in all homes, and asking for new rules for property developers, local authorities and housing associations to provide them.

Mr Greenway said: "Parents have responsibility for their children's welfare, and this tragic case should make us all more alert to the dangers and the importance of keeping drugs in a locked cabinet.

"People can easily buy lockable cabinets, or ensure that dangerous medicines are kept well out of reach."

Updated: 11:03 Friday, September 02, 2005