Joshua died of brain damage in 1999

Ken and Libby Osborne's son, Joshua, died in 1999 from a brain haemorrhage after his childminder, Linda Bayfield, shook him severely.

It later emerged that Bayfield, who was jailed for three years and nine months for manslaughter, had a history of complaints made against her, including a previous prosecution for assault.

Mr and Mrs Osborne, from Addiscombe in Croydon, believe legislation to ensure parents are given the right to access the complaints records of childminders is long overdue.

Libby Osborne says new rules are essential

"It's something that we think is vital," Mrs Osborne told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"In our case, our childminder, it turned out at her trial, had had nine serious complaints made against her all around the issues of child protection and inappropriate chastisement.

"If we had been privy to that information we certainly wouldn't have placed either of our children with her."

The Osbornes are being supported in their campaign by their local MP Geraint Davies who is behind a new bill being introduced in Parliament on Friday.

The Regulation of Childcare Providers Bill calls on the government to ensure the parents have full access to all complaints against childminders.

It also calls for a register of nannies, a currently unregulated profession, to be established, and for the abolition of the right of parents to allow childminders to smack their children.

Mr Davies said: "Had Joshua's parents been aware of their childminder's history, Joshua might still be with us today."