THE family of Newport deep vein thrombosis victim Emma Christoffersen will be launching a petition, calling for a change in the UK aviation law.

The Christoffersens, of Llanmartin, are among hundreds of campaigners organising the petition throughout the UK, asking the public for their support for a new aviation bill.

Emma's mother, Ruth, along with DVT survivors and relatives of people who have been affected by the potentially fatal condition, are launching a petition with John Smith, MP for Vale of Glamorgan, in the next few weeks.

Emma died in September 2000, moments after stepping off a long-haul flight from Australia at Heathrow Airport.

Her family, and fianc, Tim Stuart, have been battling to raise awareness of the condition ever since - Mr Stuart taking part in an unsuccessful High Court bid to allow relatives of those who have died to take legal action against a number of airlines.

The families are faced with legal problems because under current legislation, air-related DVT is not the legal responsibility of the airlines with whom victims fly.

Mrs Christoffersen said: "We are launching this petition to gain support and make sure the government will stop and listen to what we have to say.

"Through this petition, which will go into shops throughout the country, we want to put the responsibility on airlines for their passengers' health."

Mrs Christoffersen, who held a memorial in London in June for Emma and other victims of DVT, said that she is now even more determined to fight this to make sure that something is done.

She said: "We want the government to listen and support a new aviation bill, especially at this time of year when many people are flying away on their holidays."

Mrs Christoffersen said that MP Mr Smith was the leading campaigner for air health issues in the House of Commons, and he, along with VARDA, Victims of Air Related DVT Association, were pushing for more rights for victims of DVT and their families.

She said that they were calling on people to put their name to the petition.

She said: "Through the petitions we are asking the government to support the Aviation Health Bill that Mr Smith is wanting to introduce, which will give victims and families more rights and support and put the responsibility on airlines for the health of their passengers."

Mrs Christoffersen added that she hoped the petitions would be out in the next couple of weeks, and would be in Llanmartin, Magor, and she hoped, some of the major stores in Newport.