EAST Lancashire's pharmacists are urging people to write to their MPs as Government prepares to announce proposals on the future of community chemists.

They want patients to keep up pressure on the Government against plans to deregulate where pharmacists can set up.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph has been at the forefront of a campaign, backed by local MPs, pharmacists, elderly rights groups and health chiefs against a report by the Office of Fair Trading published in January which recommended a free-for-all for chemists.

Campaigners fear allowing a free-for-all would threaten smaller community businesses, as more customers use conveniently placed shops in supermarkets or town centres for their prescriptions.

This would have hit hardest local pharmacies in poor and rural areas especially disadvantaging the elderly, the low paid, pregnant women and young mothers.

Spokesman for East Lancashire Pharmaceutical Association Mark Collins met with pharmacy chiefs in London this week and said the next few weeks were vital to the campaign.

He said: "We really need patients to write to their local MPs and keep the pressure on the Government because as it stands community pharmacies are still in danger.

"They basically have not yet decided whether to reject altogether the OFT's proposals and public opinion could be crucial over the next few weeks. This is disappointing because in Scotland and Wales the OFT's report has already been thrown out."

Thousands of chemist customers across East Lancashire have signed petitions which have been presented to MPs.

The Government is due to report before Parliament's summer recess in June and ministers say they will put together a balanced package of proposals which will open up the market but also protect the vital role of community pharmacies.

A consultation period will follow the publication of the Government's report in June.

Mr Collins, who has a pharmacy in Rawtenstall, said the reaction of local MPs so far, who are all against total deregulation, was heartening but he and his fellow professionals would continue to keep up the pressure.

This week, Conservative health spokesman Chris Grayling backed the campaign to protect community pharmacies.

He said: "All around the country millions of people --- particularly our elderly people -- depend on the local chemist shop to provide them with access to the drugs they need, as well as a friendly word of help and advice. Without those shops, many would struggle to get to the larger and more distant outlets that would inevitably take over from them.

"The free market has a very clear and important place in our society -- but there are some parts of the local economy which serve a social need, and which we jeopardise at our peril. We cannot afford to lose the excellent services or accessibility currently provided by our community pharmacies."