BURNLEY MP and Clarets fan Peter Pike today entered the row over Foreign Secretary Jack's Straw's ape jibes and warned his colleague to beware of upsetting his own constituents.

The move came as Burnley FC manager Stan Ternent added: "I think a man in a position of authority should engage his grey matter before speaking."

Mr Straw, MP for Blackburn with Darwen, who attended Blackburn's famous Worthington Cup win at Cardiff on Sunday, said in a television interview on Saturday that he hoped Blackburn would win, that they would not be relegated and that rivals Burnley would not gain promotion to the Premiership.

In a Radio 5 Live broadcast the next day, former spin doctor for Chancellor Gordon Brown, Charlie Whelan said as a Tottenham fan he hated Arsenal and asked who Rovers fans disliked.

Mr Straw replied: "Oh Burnley. Some people say Burnley fans eat bananas with their feet. I would not say that at all, it would be offensive to the great apes. It is something they sing when I am on the terraces."

Mr Pike said he intended to pass on to Mr Straw on any written complaints he received about the remarks.

Mr Pike, an ardent Burnley fan for many years, commented: "I am not going to attack Jack for what he said on television or radio at the weekend but I can accept people are not very happy.

"As I was going out of the ground after the Crewe game on Saturday I was approached by a number of people who were not happy about his remark that he hoped Burnley would not gain promotion.

"The most vociferous of those was a Burnley fan who lives in Jack's constituency so he needs to be a little bit wary.

"People who spoke to me did not think it was an appropriate thing for him to say."

Mr Pike added: "Fans at both grounds cheer if they hear that the other has conceded a goal. That is just local rivalry.

"I congratulate Blackburn Rovers on their achievement although of course I wish it had been Burnley and I congratulated them when they were promoted to the Premiership. At the end of the day it would be good for Lancashire if they were both in the Premiership."

Mr Straw's comments caused Burnley fans to call for his resignation and to question his diplomatic skills as Foreign Secretary.

But today he said: "What I said was hardly original. I was passing on to the nation the views of Blackburn fans on their Burnley counterparts.

"It will not have come as a surprise to Burnley fans. It was entirely good humoured and I am sure it was taken as such.

"I am sure the Blackburn fans' view on Burnley supporters is reciprocated. I have many good friends who are Burnley fans."