PRESSURE on the Government to tackle cockle picking in Morecambe Bay was mounting this week as the sands gave up another one of its dead.

Growing frustration at the apparent lack of action to safeguard lives in the bay triggered an extraordinary meeting of Lancaster City Council yesterday (Wednesday).

The meeting was called by the Conservative group, whose leader said not enough had been done to prevent another tragedy since Chinese cockle pickers drowned on February 5.

Cllr James Airey's warning came after a body - believed to be another victim - was washed up near Dettron Gate Caravan Park, Bolton-le-Sands, on Monday, bringing the death toll to 21.

"People working on the bay are telling us the situation has not improved and we have seen evidence of that with several rescues since the tragedy," said Cllr Airey.

The council agreed to urge relevant agencies to speed up work on addressing safety issues.

Councillors are also calling for the completion of the Government's review of Marine Enforcement and for Parliamentary time for any legislation.

It is hoped this will see an integrated approach to shore-based fishing, safety, conservation and environmental concerns.

Cllr Alex Stone told the meeting: "There's better enforcement of fishing in canals than in Morecambe Bay, which is ridiculous."

Cllr Malcolm Thomas, of Slyne with Hest ward, stressed: "We need a whole Bay approach from one body set up by Government. The cocklers are still there and the mess and smell along the shore gets worse by the week."

The council also called for the Gangmasters' Bill to be brought in as soon as practicable.

Bolton-le-Sands' Cllr Keith Budden said: "Since December, the Bay has become a large scale industrial operation with 30-tonne vehicles down on the shore regularly to take away proceeds of the day. Some days 200 tonnes of cockles are taken away."

He said many gangmasters and cocklers have said they are prepared to pay for a licence.

"They realise there's a social cost to them accessing the bay. At the moment the clean-up is falling into the lap of parish councils."

Cllr Abbot Bryning suggested restrictions on night working on the bay, which he said was a result of increased outside competition and the large sums of money involved, was not put to the vote.

City council leader Ian Barker said that while the council had limited powers over bay activities, it was consulting the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents on new signage.

Morecambe MP Geraldine Smith has echoed calls for action in the wake of recent rescues.

She is meeting Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw on May 20 along with Dr Jim Andrew from the North West and Wales Sea Fisheries.

"The alarming number of incidents involving cockle pickers that the rescue services have had to deal with since the tragedy in February, demonstrates clearly that another disaster is waiting to happen in Morecambe Bay," she said.

"This is just not acceptable and I will be pressing the Minister to take steps to deal with both the current situation and the long term future of cockle picking in the Bay."

Lancaster City Council's chief executive will send a letter to Government, outlining members' concerns and resolutions passed at the meeting.