BATLEY and Spen MP Mike Wood has pledged his support to the mother of murdered police constable Ian Broadhurst in her campaign to outlaw bullet-making machines.

Pc Broadhurst was killed by David Bieber using bullets he made himself with equipment he bought legally over the counter.

Mr Wood is working with Cindy Eaton to close the loophole in the law .

Mr Wood is raising the matter in Parliament and with the Home Secretary.

Mr Wood said: "Pc Broadhurst lived in Batley and Spen and I have known his parents for some time.

"I will support Cindy's campaign fully and do everything in my power to close this loophole.

"I share fully the trial judge's concerns about this and will raise this matter with the Home Secretary."

The Labour MP said that tragically it had taken a policeman's murder to expose an outrageous deficiency in the law.

"It is deeply concerning that his killer was able to buy over the counter the components for the bullets and a machine to assemble them with no vetting or questions asked," said Mr Wood.

"In a country where firearms are banned and where it is illegal to buy ammunition it is incredible that criminals can so easily circumvent the law by making their own bullets."

He added: "In light of the discovery that these machines can be bought for a few hundred pounds on the internet I will write to (auction website) eBay and ask them to withdraw them from sale or at least prevent them from being sold to UK bidders until the law is amended."