Adults could be prosecuted for buying booze for children if an MP's bill becomes law.

Pudsey MP Paul Truswell saw his private members' bill cross another hurdle this week in his bid to have shop employees fined for selling alcohol to children.

And he has included a new amendment which would mean adults who buy drink for children could also be charged.

Mr Truswell said: "I know many people who have been approached by youngsters outside off-licences and been asked to buy them drink.

"The police in my constituency and other areas are concerned about it, it's a common way for young people to get hold of alcohol."

Mr Truswell has for two years been trying to tighten existing laws governing alcohol sales following the death of 14-year-old David Knowles, of Calverley, who was killed by a car after drinking almost four cans of lager.

David had been sold drink by a shop assistant working for an off-licence chain. Under present law only a shop's licence holder can be prosecuted for selling alcohol to youngsters.

Mr Truswell said: "My pledge to the Knowles family was to close this loophole and I'd kept out proxy buying to improve its chances of getting though.

"But at the second reading stage in February it was one of the issues raised by members so I decided to amend the bill and it went through the committee stage quickly.

"Legislation covering the selling of alcohol was made in 1964. It's out of date and my bill is trying to address this."

The bill now has to pass two more stages in the House of Commons before being considered in the House of Lords.

David's father John Knowles said today: "It's great that proxy buying has been included - it's one step further to protecting the youngsters. When people go into shops and buy drink for young people they know full well what they are doing."

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