AN actress who went to school in St Helens is leading a campaign calling for stricter laws to safeguard those in the public eye following the death of Caroline Flack.

The campaign for "Caroline's Law" includes pleas for greater protection of privacy and increased scrutiny about quotes from "attributed sources".

Hollyoaks actress Stephanie Davis, who has lived in Whiston and Rainhill, is leading the campaign.

Stephanie posted a video on YouTube in which she criticised media coverage of Caroline, whose death was confirmed on Saturday, at the age of 40.

Stephanie, a former pupil at De La Salle secondary school in Eccleston, called for "new and stricter laws around safeguarding celebrities and people in the public eye".

She added: "Let’s stand together and once and for all make a change."

St Helens Star: Heartbreaking Hollyoaks exit for Stephanie Davis

Stephanie Davis

Stephanie posted beneath her video: "We should be sticking together and be kind and helping each other with our struggles! Not pointing the finger and hanging people out to dry!!!!!

"What’s wrong with the world! Love you Caroline, keep replaying your voice notes to hear your voice and it’s breaking me how broken you were. Devastated."

The petition was gathering momentum on Sunday.

Caroline’s management company said she had been "under huge pressure" since she was accused of assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton - a charge she denied.

She was due to stand trial next month.

READ> St Helens X Factor contestant pays moving tribute to Caroline Flack

In a post on Instagram accompanying a picture of the couple at a beach bar, Burton promised the star he would "be your voice baby", and that he would "try make you proud everyday".

St Helens Star: Caroline Flack

Caroline Flack (pictured above) campaigning against cancer

Flack's management company has criticised prosecutors for pursuing her "show trial", even after her partner said he did not support it.

In response, the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Given the tragic circumstances, we will not comment on the specifics of this case at this stage."

Bail conditions had stopped Caroline having any contact with Burton ahead of her trial.

Burton said in his post that he had not been allowed to be with her. His full post reads: "My heart is broken we had something so special. 

"I am so lost for words I am in so much pain I miss you so much I know you felt safe with me you always said I don't think about anything else when I am with you and I was not allowed to be there this time I kept asking and asking.

"I will be your voice baby I promise I will ask all the questions you wanted and I will get all the answers nothing will bring you back but I will try make you proud everyday.

"I love you with all my heart."