THE Government has been told to rethink plans to take the manufacturing of camouflage uniforms from a Blackburn factory and give it to the Chinese.

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle has told ministers at the House of Commons that the decision to take the contract for the vital gear from the Pincroft Dying and Printing Company in Chorley, which had it produced by Cookson and Clegg on the Shadsworth Industrial Estate, was a mistake.

And he condemned the cost-cutting move to give the work to company Cooneen, Watts and Stone Limited in Northern Ireland, who had sub-contracted the work to a military factory in China.

He told Deputy Leader of the Commons, Phil Woolas, during the Christmas Adjournment Debate: "The procurement of Army uniforms is very important for the Lancashire textile industry.

"In time of need our armed forces were well served by the textiles produced in Lancashire's factories, but we now discover that a bridalwear company in China has tendered to provide battle dress. That is unacceptable.

"How can a company specialising in wedding dresses produce battle dress?"

"People may say that anybody can make camouflage clothing but that is not true. The print involved is very specialised, as is the chemical treatment given to the material to ensure that personnel are better protected at night. They cannot be seen through night-vision goggles."