Michael Howard has renewed his call for the government to clarify the law on self-defence when householders are confronted by a burglar.

Speaking in the Commons, Tony Blair insisted it is acceptable to "attack a burglar in your own home" but refused to change the current law.

The Conservative leader said the government was applying "two different tests", leading to confusion about how much force could be used by householders.

But the prime minister said the laws governing the use of force against intruders were "crystal clear".

Blair said there had been "only a handful" of prosecutions over the last 15 years and then "only in the most extreme circumstances".

The prime minister also accused his opposite number of raising the issue to create confusion about the scope of the law.

However, Howard called on the prime minister to back a Tory backbench bill, to be debated on Friday, which would give householders more freedom to use force against burglars.

He said a recent government leaflet on the matter "only adds to the confusion" about reasonable force.

Dismissing the Tory leader's demand, the prime minister accused Howard of pursuing his "usual petty opportunism".