A CANADIAN who has lived in East Lancashire for 40 years is finally applying for a British passport after being repeatedly stopped by airport immigration officers.

Andrew Morton, 68, a singer and former pub landlord, of Brooke Street, Rishton, has recruited the help of Hyndburn MP Greg Pope but was today warned: "Security checks are a part of modern life."

Mr Morton was born in North America and has a Canadian passport, but has an Irish accent as he grew up in Northern Ireland. He arrived in England as a 23-year-old and married his wife, Florence, who comes from Darwen.

But although he accepts security checks have to be carried out, he says he is made to feel like an illegal immigrant when he's stopped by airport officials. He also says the lengthy checks had arisen since the September 11 terrorist attacks.

And after recently being detained for an hour at Manchester Airport, he has asked Hyndburn MP Greg Pope for help in applying for a British passport. He hopes this will stop lengthy security checks spoiling his regular Mediterranean holidays.

"Every time I come through Manchester Airport, I'm treated like an illegal immigrant. It's been awful since September 11.

"I've actually lived in the UK, including Northern Ireland, for 65 years or so, but I'm quizzed and asked for proof of who I am. One officer questioned me for over an hour and said she might not let me out! She said I needed proof I lived here.

"I've got a Canadian passport and Canada was part of the Commonwealth. I'm married to a Lancashire lady but that's of no consequence to immigration officers."

Over the years he has worked in Accrington as an engineer for Platts and for Walls' sausage-makers. Later he ran the Forest Arms and Thwaites Arms pubs, at Wensley Road and Skew Bridge, both Blackburn, and The Lidget, Great Harwood. Now, he sings under the stage name of Andy McKenzie.

Mr Pope is helping him get the necessary documents from Canada but added: "When I've been abroad, I've also been delayed. I was recently delayed by one-and-a-half hours because of an unattended bag on a plane. Sadly, this is the price we're paying since September 11."

And a Home Office immigration spokeswoman said: "Immigration officers closely check people they feel might not have a fully valid story on arrival. It's nothing personal. People would complain if we didn't check passengers thoroughly.

"We're sorry this man has been stopped for lengthy periods, but we're sure it'll be easier when he gets his British passport."