RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has called for a ban on the import of French beef after evidence of rising levels of Mad Cow Disease across the Channel.

East Lancashire's lone Tory MP told students during a speech to the Big Issues sixth form debate group at St Mary's College in Blackburn, that this was the only way to protect consumers.

And he attacked Agriculture Minister Nick Brown, who has rejected such a unilateral move, for dereliction of duty.

Mr Evans said: "To ensure the safety of British consumers, imports of French beef must be banned from entering the country. This is the only sensible action we can take until the French Government is able to prove that their beef is not dangerous beef.

"A number of other European countries have already restricted the import of French beef, which could lead to the French flooding other remaining European markets, including Britain's with dangerous beef. This would also affect the price of British beef.

"Our farmers have suffered greatly as a result of BSE but now our beef is among the safest beef in the world. This hard work would come to nothing if British markets were flooded with dangerous beef from France."