THE legacy of the 19 Chinese cockle pickers who drowned in Morecambe Bay after being cut off by rising tides looks likely to see sweeping legislation and regulation of the industry, reports Ellis Butcher.

Yesterday, Morecambe MP Geraldine Smith urged the Government to close Morecambe Bay until a full health and safety investigationbegan has been carried out.

She warned eight months ago that inexperienced immigrants were in danger while cockle fishing at Pilling Sands near Fleetwood.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Collins described the lack of action by the Government as a "scandal" and said any changes should be swift and immediate.

As the politicians met, hundreds of miles away in Morecambe Bay, a major rescue operation was launched after a tractor and trailer carrying dozens of cocklers became stranded on the sands as the tide came in.

All on board escaped the drama at Priest Skeer island near Bolton-le-Sands but it was another example of why Ms Smith believes cockle fishing in the bay needs to be better regulated.

Tomorrow (Saturday), she is due to meet the chief executive of the Lancaster-based North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee the authority at the heart of regulating cockling.

At the centre of the Labour MP's calls is for more to be done to stop mass invasions of the beds, coupled with support for a new bill going through Parliament to give new powers to the authorities to crack down on gang masters taking advantage of immigrants for cheap labour.

Ms Smith told the Gazette: "We are trying to get moving on some of the issues and I hope we can see changes to make Morecambe Bay a safer place with some regulation in the near future.

"It is the human tragedy that has really got to me. We are always sad when people have drowned in Morecambe Bay and this is particularly sad when you think there might have been a lack of choice."

Throughout the week, criticism has been directed at the Government and the authorities for not acting on warnings that a tragedy would happen.

It is Britain's worst work-related disaster since the Piper Alpha oil platform exploded in the North Sea, killing 167 people in 1988.

Already more than 50 MPs have supported an early day motion by Ms Smith to shut the bay at night as a deterrent.

But she also acknowledged that the search for answers would need to involve consultation with the wider bay-hugging community around Furness, Cumbria and Lancashire.

"We have got to try - because it must be preferable to have some controls in place than not at all. It is going to be difficult to reach consensus about regulation of Morecambe Bay but I want to start a debate."

Mr Collins said he and Ms Smith had agreed to make joint representations to the authorities.

"What we do not want is lengthy inquiries or long drawn-out legal proceedings. What's necessary is immediate action."

Janet Butler, of Newbiggin Shellfish, near Aldingham, said she feared the bay could be shut to all cocklers. "We are going to be penalised now for everybody that's come into this area wanting to make a quick buck in Morecambe Bay. We do not think that would be fair," she said.

Meanwhile, a Buddhist ceremony to mark the deaths took place on Morecambe Promenade to remember the dead involving members of the Chinese community.

Attending the service was Stephen Chung who said: "I hope the message goes out to people that this is not the place for them as workers - it is too dangerous."

Chief Supt Wendy Walker, of Lancashire Police, admitted feeling 'incredibly humbled' by the ceremony.

Seven people arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the tragedy were released on police bail late on Wednesday after being questioned by detectives.