'Nothing has been done about tower block windows since my son died'

The family of a boy who fell to his death from a tower block are today calling for an investigation amid claims that safety catches on the windows are "hit and miss".

Jovanni Peddie, 14, plunged 40 feet from the window of his family's home on the Aylesbury housing state in Walworth in April as he played hide and seek with his eight-year-old brother. A coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death. But Jovanni's mother Luanda Peddie joined other residents in condemning Southwark council.

She said nothing has been done to prevent a similar tragedy happening again, despite the coroner voicing serious concerns about window safety. "It is disgusting," she said. "The coroner highlighted the risk these windows pose to children like Jovanni but they have not done anything to look into the issue." The windows, which pivot 180 degrees horizontally with little applied pressure, are used on housing estates up and down the country.

Mrs Peddie added: "In light of the hearing I hold the council personally negligent for not arranging any kind of risk assessment. An investigation urgently needs to be done. I want some good to come of the nightmare me and my family are living through."

She said the safety latches that are supposed to protect children are "hit and miss". Neighbour Karen Lewis, 30, said. "I can recall at least four serious similar accidents.

"The windows are rotting and the child locks are faulty so don't always activate when they should."

Mrs Peddie, a clerical administration worker, has four other children, aged 11 months, two, three and nine, with husband Tony, 42, a mature student studying social work. She said of Jovanni: "He was clever, mature and brilliant. He was a wonderful human being. We are all devastated."

Southwark council insisted that nothing more can be done and that letters were sent to residents last month alerting them to the potential dangers of the windows.