ROSSENDALE and Darwen MP Janet Anderson is to send an angry letter to Newsnight after their researchers terrified delivery boys and girls in her constituency.

A TV team from the flagship BBC-2 current affairs programme was preparing a programme on teenage children working illegally.

But as well as talking to children at Fearns High School, Stacksteads, they then drove round the streets of the area in the early hours looking for children delivering milk and papers.

Their car pulled alongside the youngsters as researchers talked to them through the windows - terrifying many. Milklady Denise Metcalfe and her 14-year-old son, Matthew, thought they were going to be mugged when the crew blocked them into the dead end and started hammering on the van window.

Several parents complained to the police about the behaviour which involved filming young people without their permission.

Local inspector David Lee said he was concerned and Fearns High head Neil Thornley was furious.

A BBC spokesman denied the team had been irresponsible.

But that has not washed with Shadow Women's Minister, Mrs Anderson, who said: "This is outrageous.

"I shall be writing to Newsnight to complain.

"This might be the way they do things in London, but it is not the way we do them in Rawtenstall and Darwen.

"I am not surprised several people were terrified.

"You just can't go round at that time of day and pull up next to people in a car without getting them very worried."

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