THE son of the late Hampshire MP Michael Colvin is launching a bid to prevent pensioners dying in house fires in the Waterside area.

The 67-year-old Romsey MP and wife Nichola were killed in February when fire ripped through their country home, Tangley House, near Andover.

An inquest was told that the £3 million mansion had not been equipped with smoke alarms.

A countywide initiative was launched with the couple's son, Jamie Cayzer-Colvin, last month in conjuction with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and Age Concern.

Now Mr Cayzer-Colvin is teaming up with Age Concern New Forest East to stop other people suffering the same fate.

The charity wants everyone over the age of 60 to have a smoke detector by the end of next year.

Age Concern spokesman Gordon Richardson urged people to buy smoke alarms for any elderly friends and relatives who lacked the life-saving devices.

He said: "It could make someone very happy and, more importantly, save their life.

"Eleven older people died in fires in Hampshire during 1999-2000, a higher proportion than in any other age group. Many of these deaths could have been prevented had smoke alarms been fitted."

The Waterside scheme, part of a countywide campaign called Fire Safety Challenge 2001, will be launched at Oak Lodge School, Dibden Purlieu, next Wednesday.

Esso and Exxon-Mobile at Fawley have donated £1,500 to enable pupils at the school to take part without dipping into their pocket money.