IT'S D Day for Lancaster's threatened retained firefighters on Friday - and they're calling on the people of Lancaster to support them.

Friday is the day that members of the Combined Fire Authority, who want to cut a local fire engine, will meet with Lancaster MP Hilton Dawson.

Home Office Junior Minister Michael O'Brien has ordered the fire authority to meet with the local MP.

Hilton, with MPs from other areas where the retained service is threatened, has lobbied the minister for some time. Members of the authority will have to submit a further proposal after the meeting.

Hilton will strongly urge them not to cut the service and will take part in a rally at Market Square in Lancaster at 1pm on Saturday.

Hilton has also been campaigning hard to prevent greenfield sites being developed and has signalled his intention to take the issue up in Parliament

A packed public meeting organised by the MP overwhelmingly backed his call to restrict local housing development to derelict or brownfield sites.

Hilton said: "We have a responsibility to develop the area in such a way that it does not destroy its natural beauty or cause detriment to the environment of local people. Sustainable development means conserving our rural areas, keeping our fields green and recycling brown field or derelict sites. I'm not surprised people feel very strongly about this issue and I'll be putting down an Early Day Motion on the subject once we're into the new Parliament."

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