A ROW over the boundaries of Ribble Valley's parliamentary constituency has broken out between local MP Nigel Evans and Labour's prospective candidate Marcus Johnstone.

Mr Johnstone has slammed the Tory MP for refusing to help a resident of Arrowsmith Drive, in Hoghton, who was concerned about possible changes with the gas industry.

Mr Evans wrote to the householder explaining that MPs were only allowed to enter into correspondence with their own constituents and that he had passed the letter on to Preston MP Audrey Wise.

But Mr Johnstone has assured Mr Evans that, in his opinion, the Hoghton area was within the Ribble Valley constituency area and has said he is 'staggered' that the MP does not know his own boundaries.

However, the mystery deepens because a spokesman from Mr Evans' office claimed it had been confirmed that the address in Arrowsmith Drive was certainly not within the Ribble Valley constituency.

He added: "The area may well be included in the Ribble Valley after boundary changes after the next election, but at the moment there are strict regulations within the House of Commons which state that MPs are only allowed to become involved with matters within the area they were elected to represent.

"We have already written to Mr Johnstone explaining his error."

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