EAST Lancashire businesses were today being warned about a new ploy which could land them with a fraudulent £95 bill after MP Nigel Evans found his local pub had been targeted.

He raised the issue after being approached by Steve Dilworth from the Swan with Two Necks pub in his home village of Pendleton, near Clitheroe, after the landlord received a suspicious letter claiming to be from the Data Protection Registrar.

The bogus letter claimed to come from the DPA with a Sheffield address and asked for payment of £95 for the company to comply with the Data Protection Register. It asked for cheques to be made out the the DPA.

But the Ribble Valley Tory checked with the registrar's office which confirmed it was bogus as registration was free and said that the company was being investigated.

Now he wants to warn other businesses across the area not to pay the cash but go to the police instead - and his campaign has been backed by Labour colleagues in the Commons.

Mr Evans said: "There are a lot of businesses in East Lancashire that could unwittingly pay this bill. This is a complete fraud and the company is being investigated. On the letter there is no telephone number.

"I am urging all business in East Lancashire, to take caution. People who would normally pay these sorts of bills without a second thought should take caution.

"I am asking the government to urgently publicise this and those responsible for it be brought to justice. Anyone who has paid out this money should have it repaid immediately."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope backed Mr Evans warning: "In this case Nigel is right.

"East Lancashire businesses must be on alert for this.

"They must not pay the money and if they are suspicious about such a request they must contact the police.

"There are many East Lancashire businesses that cannot afford to pay £95 for this and they should not do so.''

Burnley Labour MP Peter Pike also backed Mr Evans: "He is entirely right.

"Every business in East Lancashire must beware of this. They should contact the police if they receive one of these letters and under no circumstances pay the money over.''

The Data Protection Registrar confirmed the company's claim was bogus and said it was investigating.