THE father-in-law of the man who will decide the fate of Leyland's 10 firefighters is being lobbied by South Ribble councillors in a desperate bid to save the service.

The revelation that George Rogers, a Chorley and Leyland MP and father-in-law of Home office minister George Howarth, was made by Coun Tony Kelly during a stormy meeting of South Ribble council.

George Howarth will have the final say later this month on whether or not the 10 retained firefighters will be scrapped as part of a cost-cutting exercise by Lancashire's Combined Fire Authority.

Coun Kelly, one of several Labour councillors who launched a petition to save the service, said: "We are urging Mr Rogers to shake George up!"

Members agreed to forget political differences and join forces to try and stave off the cuts.

During the heated debate the Labour Party was accused of running away from the issue, the Liberal Democrats accused of electioneering, while the Conservatives, claimed Labour, had done 'next to nothing'. The council will now ask the Home Office to refuse approval for the changes and will ask the fire authority to think again. Council leader Gina Lewis said: "This is a matter which affects us all."

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