IN the few weeks since the Office of Fair Trading published its report advocating the end of protection for local chemists shops, public opposition has been loud and clear.

The OFT wants deregulation on the grounds that it will bring more price competition - a move backed by Asda and other big supermarkets who say people will have more opportunity to visit in-store pharmacies.

But such a free-for-all will also sound the financial death knell for community chemist shops and leave the sick, elderly, pregnant women and young mothers facing expensive, awkward and time-consuming journeys to get badly needed medicines. In short, the vulnerable will be hit hard.

Now Pendle MP Gordon Prentice has spoken up in the House of Commons backing our campaign to keep neighbourhood pharmacies and highlighted their usefulness as "an important part of the health team".

And Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson has received a 1,000 signature petition against the recommendation which she is to present to Parliament.

Their action means that within a very short period, all six Lancashire MPs, including Foreign Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw, have made clear that they are against a free-for-all.

Yet the government has so far refused to give any view on the OFT report. It must act soon to assure us that local pharmacies have a real future.