A man who lost his entire family in a road accident is backing a campaign for cranes to undergo compulsory MoT tests.

Barry Copeland's life was turned upside down in 2008 when his wife Ann, 45, and their daughters Niamh, 10, and Ciara, seven, died in a crash on the A92 near St Cyrus, Aberdeenshire.

A Fatal Accident Inquiry ruled the car had skidded because hydraulic oil had leaked from a crane.

Now, Mr Copeland's MP Sir Robert Smith has tabled a motion at Westminster calling for regulated safety checks on cranes as they are exempt under current rules.

Mr Copeland, 52, of Johnshaven, Aberdeenshire, said: "I regard this move as a very positive step forward but there is a long way to go and pressure needs to be maintained on the Department for Transport."

Mrs Copeland was taking her daughters to school in the family's Citroen Saxo when the tragedy occurred in January 2008.

Sir Robert told Parliament this week that a consultation document published by the Department of Transport indicates the UK does not currently meet an EU directive on crane safety.

He said: "FAIs can never undo a tragedy like this but they can reduce the risk of a repeat by ensuring vital lessons are learned. This motion highlights to Parliament the crucial finding of the sheriff that mobile cranes should now be tested like most other vehicles on our roads."