THE family of a teenager who was knocked over by a cyclist and later died of her injuries have taken their fight for justice to Parliament.

Rhiannon Bennett, 17, was knocked over by cyclist Jason Howard, 36, in Buckingham in April, 2007. She died six days later from severe head injuries.

Howard was fined £2,200.

Her parents Diana and Michael who have recently moved to Culworth, were left outraged after Howard was prosecuted for dangerous cycling — a charge that does not carry a prison sentence.

At his trial last monthjul, Aylesbury Magistrates' Court was told that Howard yelled to Rhiannon and her friends 'Move because I'm not stopping'.

Spurred on by two similar cases where the cyclist were prosecuted under a different act carrying the possibility of imprisonment, the couple plan to push for a change in the law.

They have enlisted the help of Banbury MP Tony Baldry to lobby the House of Commons to update the Road Traffic Act to include death caused by a pedal cyclist to stop any family going through what they have.

The couple's lawyer, John Wardley, of Luton-based solicitors Pictons, said: "The Bennetts are still distraught at the loss of their lovely daughter.

"They feel the law isn't taking the death of their daughter seriously.

"They would have much preferred to face the possibility that a more serious charge might not have resulted in a conviction, since it would at least have treated Rhiannon's tragic death with the gravity it deserved.

"The Crown Prosecution Service claimed the charge of dangerous cycling was the most appropriate.

"But given the evidence, it's difficult to see why they didn't decide on bringing a charge under section 35 of the Offences Against the Person Act instead.

"They had the opportunity in advance of the prosecution of weighing up the evidence during Rhiannon's inquest in April, 2008.

"It also seems inappropriate the prosecuting authorities should have to rely upon an 1861 Act of Parliament when it would be relatively straightforward to amend the Road Traffic Act 1988 and use somewhat less archaic language."

A CPS spokesman said: "A file of evidence from the police was reviewed by a senior CPS prosecutor and, based on that evidence, it was decided the charge of dangerous cycling was the most appropriate."

The spokesman said the case was also reviewed after the inquest, which returned a verdict of accidental death, and there was insufficient evidence to bring a more serious charge.