Councillors have backed proposals for a change in the law in memory of a Stoke-on-Trent schoolgirl who was killed by a drink driver.

Six-year-old Sharlotte-Sky Naglis died in 2021 after being hit by motorist John Owen as she and her father walked along the pavement on Endon Road, near their Norton Green home.

Owen was left in a coma after the collision meaning he could not consent to having his blood being tested for months.

The situation resulted in an agonising wait for the family. It was eventually found that he was twice over the drink drive limit and had taken cocaine – he was subsequently jailed for six years and two months.

The government is now considering changing the law around the testing of blood samples from drink and drug driving suspects, following a campaign by Sharlotte's family.

Elected members at Stoke-on-Trent City Council have unanimously backed a motion welcoming the consultation on Sharlotte's Law, and urging residents to take part in it.

The motion was proposed by Duncan Walker, cabinet member for safer and resilient communities. He paid tribute to the 'tireless campaigning' of Sharlotte's mum Claire Reynolds and her family, as well as David Williams and Jonathan Gullis, the current and former MPs for Stoke-on-Trent North.

Cllr Walker said: "I know David has worked tirelessly on this matter with ministers and we now have a significant step towards making Sharlotte's Law a reality.

"We cannot imagine the pain and suffering that Claire and her family have endured. But her courage and dignity in campaigning for a change in the law has been there for all to see.

"We will do all we can to get the change in the law over the line. I would urge everyone to take part in the consultation."

Dave Evans, councillor for Baddeley, Milton and Norton, seconded the motion. He said: "The courage that Claire has shown and the determination to harness her grief to give justice to others, is fairly incomprehensible. I can't imagine losing my daughter and using that to drive for justice.

"I also pay tribute to David, and to Jonathan, because we all know how difficult it can be to get something like that through the legislature.

"But we should not forget that this law will only be needed in other circumstances of tragedy, when others have been lost on our roads. It's incumbent on all of us to make our roads safer."

David Williams, who is also a city councillor, said he had discussed Sharlotte's Law with his predecessor Mr Gullis, as the issue was 'above party politics'.

He said: "The remarkable bravery of Sharlotte's family blows me away. To be in a position of grief like that and still be able to campaign for what's right, is absolutely incredible. The ultimate outcome we want is to get this over the line."

Councillor Waseem Akbar spoke about losing his own son had made him particularly strongly about Sharlotte's death.

He said: "I can feel the pain of every family in the world who has lost their child. That pain stays with the parent until they die."

Councillor Chandra Kanneganti said: "This is about justice for bereaved families. These families face unimaginable grief and we need to be there for them. We need a system that will find that truth as quickly as possible."

The government announced it was looking into changing the law around blood testing as part of its new Road Safety Strategy. A consultation on wider changes to penalties for motoring offences gives members of the public and organisations the chance to have their say on Sharlotte's Law.

Cllr Walker's motion calls on the council to formally respond to the consultation and publicise it locally.

The consultation will run until March 31 – questions 26 to 29 in the response form relate to Sharlotte's Law.

People can have their say on the consultation here.