MPS today pledged action to help the East Lancashire economy in the wake of the jobs bombshells which have rocked the area.

The move came as the North West Aerospace Alliance revealed it was working on a five-point plan to help fend off more redundancies in the area.

And Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson revealed she was seeking support from all six local MPs for an adjournment debate in Westminster to discuss the situation.

The area has lost hundreds of jobs in the past few months, with Philips, Blackburn, BAe, Samlesbury, a Silentnight distributer in Hapton, Leoni Wiring in Altham and Rolls-Royce, Barnoldswick, cutting a total of more than 900 jobs in the past two weeks.

The North West Aerospace Alliance, with the support of the North West Development Agency, is launching its strategy on Monday in a bid to preserve local jobs and preparing companies for the eventual upturn.

Mrs Anderson said: "What we need is to get East Lancashire officially identified as a sub region of the North West as Merseyside is. Currently we are swamped by Manchester, Preston and even the Lake District.

"We need to ensure that our special problems, attractions and need are identified -- especially in terms of manufacturing. We have problems in terms of housing, skills, higher education and being off the beaten track that must be addressed. Sub-Regional status - as Cornwall has in the South-West of England - would help us promote the area and win vital UK government and European Union grants.

"I am seeking to get all the East Lancashire MPs together to call a special adjournment debate at Westminster to discuss East Lancashire's problems. This will allow us to raise the issue with Ministers and get a response, hopefully sympathetic, on the record.''

Burnley MP Peter Pike said: "The government needs to provide extra money to help companies deal with the problems either through the council or the North-West Regional Office. Something must be done to help. Burnley Borough Council does not have the money to do this on its own.

"I have been in contact with a number of government Ministers about this. I discussed the matter at length with with Treasury Chief Secretary Andrew Evans - the man who holds the government purse strings.

"I am seeking meetings with Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt and Transport, Local Government and Regions Secretary Stephen Byers on the issue.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said: "What we need is more higher education facilities in the area. We do not have a proper higher education institution to attract graduates and other high pay, high skill jobs to the area.

"This would provide a centre for such work and attract a cluster of hi-tech companies and research facilities which would help build on our hi-tech aerospace base and help it outlast the current problems."

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice said: "In particular, we need to see the contracts, already agreed by Britain and other European nations, to bring forward order for the Airbus A400 military transport aircraft vital to both British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce.

"I shall continue to pursue these issues and the importance of hi-tech hi pay jobs and higher education facilities with Ministers and companies at every opportunity.''

Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: "We need to make sure East Lancashire's direct needs are represented at the heart of government by my fellow MPs and by me.

"We are staying in very close touch with local business and industries through the Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Trade and local authorities and giving a lot of encouragement to pioneering job creating initiatives like the Blackburn partnership."

Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans said: "The burdens of red tape and taxation on local industries need lifting.''