A ROSSENDALE parlia-mentary candidate has demanded an explanation of why personal data of hundreds of Valley residents were found.

Jake Berry, 29, has written to Peter Hain's replacement, James Purnell, to tell him he must be held accountable over the security breach.

The documents, contain-ing personal information of thousands of residents, including addresses and benefits information, were found by a passer-by in Burnley Road East, Water.

He said: "This comes only a few weeks after 21,790 Valley family's details were lost in the post. Families across Rossendale and Darwen are rightly concerned about their personal security; not least their bank details potentially getting into the hands of criminals and fraudsters.

"I would advise all poten-tial victims to monitor their bank accounts closely and to immediately alert their bank to any unexpected transactions."