AN MP has warned against plans to bring London-style congestion charges to urban centres in Lancashire.

Lancashire is safe from the charges until at least 2006, but bosses at Lancashire County Council and Preston City Council have refused to rule them out in the future.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "Workers and businesses have already been clobbered by over 50 Government tax rises, extortionate business rates and soaring council taxes.

"Preston City Council and Lancashire County Council are willing to endanger the prosperity of our towns and extract more cash from the already super-taxed motorist.

"If councillors are serious about reducing congestion then I suggest they should lead the way by charging themselves for parking when they go to their meetings in County Hall."

Drivers in the capital are having to get used to £5-a-day charges for using certain streets, while other cities in the UK are also looking at charging motorists.

A spokesman for Preston City Council said: "It might be something we would consider in the future, but certainly have no immediate plans."

A Lancashire County Council spokesman added: "We have no plans to introduce congestion charges as yet, although we are working hard to reduce congestion."

Blackburn with Darwen Council has also said it has no plans to introduce congestion charges, but it could not be ruled out.