I AM very concerned about the results of a recent survey by Friends of the Earth, RSPB and WWF into the environmental record of our MEPs.

It revealed that the Conservatives representing this area are close to having the worse voting record in the whole of Europe when it comes to supporting new laws to protect the environment.

Ten key issues were identified and in all but one case our Conservative MEPs seem almost wilfully to have gone out of their way to try and defeat them.

This issue really matters, because our representatives in Brussels shape almost all Britain's environment laws.

Every day reveals new evidence of the pace of destruction as a result of mankind's activities.

We need a change in direction if we are to pass this planet on to our successors in a state fit for the future.

We need MEPs who are prepared to take a lad and be environmentally ambitious, not ones who seek to defeat even the modest proposals for environmental improvement.

CHRIS BLACKBURN, Lancashire Environmental Campaigner, Back Fazakerly Street, Chorley.