More than 30 backbenchers have lost their chance to put legislation on the statute book as time ran out on Friday for private member's bills.

The annual "massacre of the innocents" on Friday saw just one MP make the cut in their bid to write laws from outside of the government.

Durham North MP Kevan Jones did succeed in passing a bill to ban big stores from opening on Christmas Day.

To get that far the Labour MP required a prominent position in the annual Commons ballot for prioritising bills, significant support from government, parliamentary colleagues and the Lords and a large slice of luck.

However others were less fortunate, despite their hard work, as worthy measures such as the Lighter Evenings Bill, Sex Discrimination (Clubs and Other Private Associations) Bill and Cinemas (Rural Areas) Bill all fell by the wayside.

With parliament set to be prorogued ahead of the Queen's Speech next month the axe fell with a single cry of "object" in the House enough to eliminate the legislation.

And time will be even shorter in the next session with parliament expected to be dissolved for a May or June general election.