EAST Lancashire MP Greg Pope is urging the Government to continue its ban on live animal exports despite the end of the foot and mouth crisis.

When the epidemic was at its height, all meat from Britain was banned from going overseas.

Now some exports are due to begin because the United Kingdom has been declared foot and mouth-free.

But Hyndburn Labour backbencher Mr Pope wants the ban on live exports to remain, claiming that they are cruel.

In addition he says that restricting exports to meat rather than live animals would boost slaughterhouses in Britain, including Slingers in his constituency.

He has discovered that in 2000 632,428 live sheep were exported from England, Wales and Scotland, mainly to Europe. Between January 1 and February 20 -- when foot and mouth sparked the ban on meat exports -- a further 87,603 live sheep were shipped abroad.

Mr Pope said: "I am calling for the ban on live exports to remain.

"I welcome the fact that meat exports are now resuming but there really is no need for live exports to resume."