LUCKY East Lancashire MP Nigel Evans has won the right to introduce a Private Members Bill which could become law for the fourth time in his12 years at Westminster.

The Ribble Valley Tory doesn't know what legislation he will be proposing in the next few months but his telephone lines will be hot with lobbyists putting forward ideas.

Mr Evans came second in the annual Ballot for Private Members Bills which means that provided he doesn't choose too controversial a subject, he has a good chance of getting it into law.

Normally the first 10 MPs successful in the ballot have a reasonable chance of making their own legislation provided they get good government support.

Mr Evans in 1997 has already achieved this when he introduced a bill to allow the compulsory DNA testing of prisoners. Supported by the government this is now on the statute book.

A year later he was less successful with an attempt to reintroduce Preston Labour MP Audrey Wise's bill to include wind chill factor in the calculations to trigger the £100 winter fuel payment for pensioners.

Despite Labour complaining when the previous Tory administration blocked Mrs Wise's bill, Tony Blair's government did the same.

And he also was unsuccessful in 2001 with an attempt to allow people affected by a planning application to appeal against its approval by the local council. Currently the only people who can appeal are applicants whose bid is turned down by the local authority.

Mr Evans said: "I am absolutely staggered. I just appear to be incredibly lucky. Many MPs go through their entire Parliamentary career without the opportunity to make a law their own. I have had four in 12 years and already succeeded with one.

"I am not sure what Bill I will introduce but I know there will be plenty of people ringing me up to make suggestions."