An attempt to force all young cyclists to wear helmets was scuppered in Parliament.

Conservative MPs who opposed the idea used a technicality to stop a debate on April 23 about the Private Member's Bill.

Fewer than the required 40 MPs took part in a vote called by Tory MP Eric Forth for the House to sit in private -- a procedural trick forcing the Commons to move to the next business.

The Protective Headgear for Young Cyclists Bill, which would have seen parents fined £200 for failing to ensure under-16s wore head protection, will now have to await another slot for debate.

Although that does not prevent it becoming law, the chances of it being successful are cut because of the busy parliamentary schedule.

Cycling groups in Oxfordshire opposed the legislation. While the British Medical Association recommends all cyclists wear helmets, it was not in favour of the Bill, put forward by Carlisle's Labour MP Eric Martlew.

Following the Tories' intervention, James Styring, of Oxford cycling group Cyclox, said: "It's important for people to have a choice about whether they wear helmets or not.

"We will keep an eye on this issue to see how it progresses in the future.

"Cycling groups do not want to see cycling decline and the worry is that if wearing helmets does become compulsory, some people could be deterred from cycling."

Thames Valley Police officers and county council road safety officers had backed the bill, saying it would reduce casualties.

In 2003, there were 30 serious injury accidents involving cyclists in the county and 276 slight injury accidents.

From that total, seven cyclists wearing helmets were seriously injured and 60 slightly injured.

County council road safety officer Ian Harris was unavailable for comment.