COUNCIL chiefs have urged soccer supremos to crack down on away fans standing up at Ewood Park after claiming they were causing a serious safety risk.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has written to the Football Licensing Authority (FLA) about the problem of "mass standing" by visiting supporters.

Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson has also thrown her weight behind the campaign.

In his letter, Alan Peake, the council's director of technical services, says: "I feel the FLA has a duty to take an urgent lead in the interests of public safety in actively searching with others for a satisfactory solution that can be consistently enforced at all grounds.

"Blackburn with Darwen Council take the view that mass standing by supporters is a very serious risk to safety and will be taking all reasonable steps within its power to ensure that the problem at Ewood Park is addressed."

Mrs Anderson has also written to the FLA and says: "Blackburn prides itself on a sport which many members of the town enjoy. The town has been able to enjoy new, safe stands and most people wish to see Ewood Park as an example of safety."

John de Quidt, chief executive of the FLA, said there was not a simple solution to the problem.

He said: "If 10 people stand up you can deal with the problem, but if 3,000 people decide to stand up it becomes a bit more difficult.

"It is easy for people who are new to the subject to demand that the problem is sorted out immediately.

"But it will take a lot of co-ordinated work and nibbling away at the problem.

"We are getting together with the football authorities to discuss whether there is a means of co-ordination between clubs to try and get something done."

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