HOME Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw was today meeting senior councillors from Burnley and Pendle to hear their grave concerns over the placement of asylum seekers in the boroughs.

They were pressing Mr Straw to give councils a greater role in finding homes for asylum seekers rather than relying totally on private landlords.

Councillors in Pendle were told on Wednesday that some asylum seekers had already "disappeared".

Coun Frank Clifford said: "We don't know where they are or how they are doing."

There are around 45 asylum seekers in Pendle, housed in Nelson and Brierfield. Many walk to Burnley to collect their weekly allowance of £10 rather than spend £1.60 for a return bus fare, because the money must be picked up from Burnley's main post office. Morrison's store, Nelson, is the only outlet where asylum seekers can use their food vouchers.

John Kirk, Pendle Council's service director, said: "The voucher system appears to be very restrictive, involving substantial travel to eligible post offices or shopping facilities."

Coun Azhar Ali, leader of the council's Labour group, and Coun Stuart Caddy, leader of Burnley Council, were today passing on concerns about treatment of the asylum seekers to Mr Straw. "Pendle and our neighbouring councils believe the current way in which asylum seekers are being placed in the region is insensitive and unfair to the individuals," said Coun Ali.

As Pendle's services committee met at Colne Town Hall to discuss the issue, a small group of campaigners stood outside and called for a better deal for asylum seekers.

Up to 600 homes will have to be found by councils across Lancashire to house asylum seekers as part of the Government's policy of dispersing them across the country.

The dispersal programme could last five years.