CAMPAIGNING MP Gordon Prentice is challenging East Lancashire landowners to open up their land to ramblers to see if the Government's proposed voluntary right to roam will work.

The Pendle Labour backbencher is leading protests against the Government's climb-down over its pre-election promise to bring in a "right to roam" enforced by law.

He has received the backing of more than 140 Labour MPs - half the government back benches - for a Commons protest motion urging the Government to legislate.

And he is determined to test whether the landowners would comply with a voluntary compromise.

He said: "I shall be writing to the Duke of Westminster who owns much of the Trough of Bowland and Lord Saville who owns land on the Lancashire/Yorkshire border, to seek their agreement to open up their land.

"I regard this as a litmus test of the Government's proposals but I do not expect them to co-operate.

"I believe we will have to legislate and I will eat my hat if these two aristocrats give access to the open countryside that they own in Lancashire.

"If they do I shall be delighted but very surprised."

Ramblers are angry at the Government's decision not to press ahead with legislation.

Yesterday ramblers gathered at one of the many "no go" zones in the Pennine hills to protest for legislation to end the public's exclusion from large stretches of moorland across the country.

David Beskine, assistant director of the 122,000-strong Ramblers' Association, led a group of ramblers on to forbidden land near Widdop Reservoir on the Thursden Valley moor road between Burnley and Hebden Bridge.

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