TWO MPs today vowed to fight "outrageous" plans to make the public pay the price of the Burnley riots with higher council tax and fewer bobbies on the beat.

Burnley MP Peter Pike and Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said insurance companies should foot the bill for the disturbances but instead were trying to shift the cost to the public purse.

They hit out after Lancashire Constabulary revealed it has appealed to the Home Office for help in meeting the cost of the recent disorder in Burnley, thought to be around £1million.

Chief Constable Pauline Clare and chairman of Lancashire Police Authority, Ruth Henig, warned that if there is no help then the costs of policing the disturbances coupled with claims for damage caused during the unrest could lead to a reduction in officers on the streets or an increase in council tax.

The Constabulary has made a formal application to the Government for cash to cover the cost which is now being considered by ministers.

Burnley MP Peter Pike backed the plea and said he would try and get Mr Blunkett to meet Mrs Clare and Mr Henig.

He said: "I would support their plea. Obviously there have been extra costs as a result of the disturbances and afterwards and the county needs extra money.

"I will press David Blunkett to meet a delegation.

"I certainly don't want to see higher council taxes or fewer bobbies on the beat. We need more bobbies on the beat not less."

And he attacked the insurance companies for trying to avoid their liabilities by seeking to make the police pay instead.

Mr Pike said: "I think its totally wrong. As far as I am concerned they insure, there are disturbances that damage, and they should pay out.

"I don't believe they should be allowed to transfer their liabilities to the council tax payer. Insurance companies are always trying to find a loophole to wriggle out of paying up."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said he was concerned about the possible impact on policing and levels of council tax.

He said: "It is outrageous that the insurance companies are trying to blame the police and shift the liabilities onto the public purse.

"I hope the police are successful in resisting these claims."

Despite the fact that the disturbances were confined to Burnley, any hike in council tax would affect everyone who pays the tax and lives in Lancashire. Following the disturbances a number of claims have been received by Lancashire Constabulary which are being pursued by private insurance companies and individual under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886.

They are currently being considered in detail against strict legislative guidelines by the Constabulary's legal representatives. To date, none have been settled and all are being resisted.

The police, the Burnley Task Force and Burnley Borough Council have all refused to refer to the disturbances as riots, which they say means that claims for damages are the responsibility of private insurance companies and not Lancashire Constabulary. They say it also means that anyone who was not insured will not be able to make a claim against the police.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said that the cost implications of the policing operation would have no bearing on the Task Force's recommendation that 14 new community policemen be stationed in Burnley.

The financial ramifications of claims against the police being successful, coupled with the cost of policing the disturbances, were discussed at a meeting of the Police Authority following which, a decision was taken to make an urgent representation to the Home Secretary David Blunkett.

Chief Constable Pauline Clare said: "Concerns about the potential cost to the constabulary of these claims being successful were expressed at the meeting.

"In view of these concerns, the Chair of the Police Authority, Dr Ruth Henig, and I are asking for an urgent meeting with the Home Secretary.

"We will be seeking an assurance that funding will be made available to cover any successful claims for damages as well as trying to recover some money towards the cost of the major policing operation.

"If no money is forthcoming, this could -- in the worst case scenario -- result in there being fewer officers on the streets."

Chairman of the Lancashire Police Authority Ruth Henig said: "The additional policing costs of the operation, combined with these claims, is causing severe financial problems.

"If the county has to foot the whole bill there will have to be a substantial increase in the county's council tax charges."

"We will therefore, be resisting the claims for damage and asking the Government for help with the policing costs."

Dr Henig remains optimistic about a meeting with David Blunkett, but added, "I don't want to alarm people, but if we do not get help there are consequences and those costs of the policing operation and any subsequent insurance claims will have to be met."

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "Lancashire Constabulary's official application for a special grant for the additional cost for the policing of the recent disorder in Burnley was received by the Home Office on October 29 and is currently under consideration."