LANCASHIRE South Euro MP Michael Hindley has hit out at Nato bombing raids in Yugoslavia.

His comments came at a meeting at Accrington town hall organised for opponents of the current air strikes on Serb targets.

Mr Hindley is one of nine Labour MEPs who voted against a European Parliamentary resolution supporting the bombing.

He said: "This is a most dangerous shift in international politics. We were told bombing would halt the atrocities in Kosovo, but it has caused them to increase."

Secretary of the Lancashire Trades Union Council and Hyndburn TUC Peter Billington also spoke out against the military action.

Mr Billington has been gathering signatures in Accrington from people opposed to the bombing since it began in March.

He sent one petition to Prime Minister Tony Blair, calling on the government to end its involvement in the Kosovo conflict.

Mr Billington said: "We received a postcard from Downing Street acknowledging the petition, but that is inadequate."

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