The Government is coming under increasing pressure to act on carbon monoxide poisoning legislation that campaigners say could save holidaymakers’ lives in the future.

In a recent report into the death of two children who died from carbon monoxide poisoning while on holiday in Corfu, coroner David Hinchliff said there was a risk of “future deaths” unless steps were taken to tighten EU-wide regulations.

According to the BBC, which has seen the report, he called on ministers to “draft, instigate and implement EU legislation on gas installation and carbon monoxide safety” that would include accommodation checks by health and safety specialists, not “often inexperienced and overworked” tour reps; publicity campaigns to encourage tourists to travel with portable carbon monoxide detectors; and warnings of the dangers of such poisoning in holiday brochures.

The report followed the inquest into the death of Bobby and Christi Shepherd, aged six and seven, who died at the Louis Corcyra Beach hotel after breathing in fumes from a faulty boiler.

A view of the villa in Corfu where the two children died Photo: Getty

The children, from Horbury, near Wakefield, were on a half-term break with their father, Neil, and his girlfriend Ruth, now his wife, who were both put in a coma by the fumes, when the tragedy occurred.

Thomas Cook, the family’s tour operator, was found to have breached its duty of care. In his report, Hinchliff said Thomas Cook should lead the way in improving safety and raising awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide across the industry.

Mary Creagh, MP for Wakefield constituency, told the BBC that 43 holidaymakers had died of carbon monoxide poisoning since the children’s deaths.

I regret to say that the political will in Westminster is weak Frank Brehany, consumer director, HolidayTravelWatch

She said: “The family’s dearest wish is that this sort of tragedy does not happen to anybody else.

“I welcome the fact the coroner is pushing the UK government to institute new carbon monoxide standards in the UK and across Europe and is pushing the holiday industry to better protect travellers.”

A spokesperson for Thomas Cook said the holiday company welcomed the coroner’s report.

“As a company we are now reviewing his report and the suggestions he has made for both the wider travel industry and for Thomas Cook,” the spokesperson said.

Paul and Sharron Wood, the parents of the two children Photo: Getty

”We will continue to work with the travel industry and ABTA to identify possible improvements that may be appropriate for implementation across the industry. We are already working with Sharon Wood [the children’s mother] on a new initiative to raise awareness about carbon monoxide, in order to tackle some of the issues head on.”

Travel guidance group HolidayTravelWatch called for a new regulation that came into force this week regarding landlords and rented accommodation in the UK to be extended to holiday accommodation, saying that 500,000 holidaymakers a week in the UK are at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Frank Brehany, consumer director, said: “This is extremely disappointing [that the legislation has not been extended to holiday accommodation]. We have been engaged for several years with campaigners, in arguing for a better regulatory environment to protect consumers and homeowners; I regret to say, with some notable exceptions, that the political will in Westminster is weak.

"This Government should now re-open this inquiry and create the conditions for a wider regulatory protection; if they cannot achieve this at Westminster, then they should use all efforts to secure a pan-European solution.”