THE families of two children who died of carbon monoxide poisoning on holiday called for tour operators to tighten up safety procedures, at a news conference to raise awareness of the silent killer.

Christi Shepherd, seven, and her six-year-old brother, Bobby, of Horbury, died during their half-term break in Corfu in October.

Paul Wood, husband of Sharon Wood, the children's mother, said: "We want to stop other holidaymakers dying in the same pointless way."

Mr Wood said the deaths were not an accident and should never have happened.

He told the news conference: "We hope that we can contribute to pushing the multi-million pound holiday industry into providing at least a standard level of safety that will allow all future holidaymakers to be confident they will wake up in the morning and take a breath of fresh air."

Mr Wood said it was "simply not good enough" for British tour operators' guidelines to state that boilers and other gas installations only have to be inspected once in every three years.

There should at least be a proper check by a British Corgi-registered fitter every year, he said.

Christi and Bobby were on holiday with their father Neil Shepherd and his partner Ruth Beatson who were also overcome by gas.

Mr Shepherd said the children complained of feeling unwell during the day on October 25 but later felt better.

He said the family went to bed that night at about 10.30pm or 10.45pm.

Mr Shepherd said: "Everyone was happy and excited and looking forward to the holiday and a boat trip the following day.

"Within 10 minutes of getting into bed Christi started crying and being sick. Ruth and I immediately got up and went to comfort the children.

"Both Ruth and I collapsed and went into a coma. I went into a coma for four days and Ruth for three days.

"We were discovered by a chambermaid at the hotel the following morning. Christi and Bobby were already dead."

The news conference marked the start of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week and was organised by a series of charities including the Dominic Rodgers Trust.

Dominic, 10, died from CO poisoning after the toxic gas seeped into his Fartown bedroom from the next-door neighbour's faulty boiler.

Other victims have included Kan Shing Lam, 54, and his wife, Hsui Ying Lam, 52, found dead at their home above the Man Lee Chinese takeaway, in Woodhead Road, Lockwood, in March last year.

The news conference was attended by Huddersfield Labour MP Barry Sheerman, co-chairman of the all-party Parliamentary Gas Safety Group.

He has called for Europe to tighten its safeguards against carbon monoxide.