HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope has launched a battle to ensure the future of community wardens in Accrington.

The Labour backbencher is alarmed that cash to pay for the police support staff will run out in April next year. But he is urging Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Hyndburn Council, Lancashire County Council, police and the fire service to find the cash to keep the service going.

The wardens began work with the support of money from Mr Prescott's department.

However it had always been known that from next April money would have to be found locally to keep the service going.

Mr Pope was alarmed to find that Hyndburn Council did not have the money themselves to continue the service.

So he has launched a non-political campaign to find the cash - £150,000 in the 12 months from April, 2005 and £300,000 the year after - to keep the community wardens in action.

He has put down a special Early Day Motion at the House of Commons to highlight the issue.

Although it is unlikely to be debated, it appeared on the House of Commons Order Paper, Parliament's daily agenda sent to all MPs, ministers and senior civil servants. The move comes after Tory council leader Coun Peter Britcliffe said organisations throughout the borough should contribute to the cost of the wardens.

The EDM says: "I call on Hyndburn Borough Council, Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to work together to find a way of funding a service which adds in value to the community a great deal more than it costs in money."

Mr Pope said: "The future of the community warden service in Accrington is a big issue in my constituency.

"Hyndburn Council do not have the money to continue it. I am not having a go at the council and it is important that this is a non-political campaign.

"The EDM is a way of getting publicity for this campaign at Westminster."