LABOUR MPs for Burnley and Hyndburn today called for police to be given tougher powers to stop people with backgrounds of violence from travelling abroad to major sporting events.

Burnley MP Peter Pike spoke out after a man who is barred for life from every pub in Padiham was pictured among a "snarling mob" seen setting fire to a Tunisian flag during the troubles at the World Cup in France.

Thirty-year-old Mark Ramplee, of Hapton Road, Padiham, was said by neighbours to be in France with his dad.

One said: "I can't imagine him getting involved when he is there with his dad."

Joe Atkinson, chairman of the Licensed Victuallers' Association and licensee of the Bridge Inn, said Mr Ramplee had been barred from every pub in Padiham for life under the town's "pub watch'' scheme following a fight in June last year. Mr Atkinson said: "I have thrown him out of my pub many times. He is a nice enough young man until he is in drink."

Mr Ramplee, who lives alone, is believed to work at Hepworth Building Products Ltd, Hapton, but the company refused to comment today.

Speaking from the House of Commons, Mr Pike said: "Anyone who is doing harm to the reputation of this country should be sent home from France straight away and should not be allowed to go back.

"The legislation in flawed in that respect and we need to give police increased powers to prevent people who cause great harm to the name of the country travelling to such events."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope today demanded action to ban a World Cup soccer thug in an Accrington Stanley shirt from attending football matches.

And he has promised to appeal to Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw to intervene.

A fan in a Stanley shirt was photographed waving a table above his head during a riot in Marseille.

Mr Pope said: "I am very concerned that this person seems to be getting away Scot free having been photographed throwing a table during a riot and bringing disgrace on Accrington wearing an Accrington Stanley football shirt.

"At the very least there would appear, on the face of it, to be a case for this person to be banned from attending football matches for a very long time.

"It is up to the police intelligence services to identify him and the national authorities concerned to take swift action to ensure he cannot repeat this disgraceful behaviour."

"I know that Jack Straw, the Home Secretary and an East Lancashire MP, is as concerned about this issue as I am and I shall be raising this case with him."

Meanwhile an anxious mother is still waiting for news of her son, Roy Humphreys, who has been accused of being the man in the photograph.

Callers to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph said the fan looked like Mr Humphreys, of Southwood Drive, Baxenden.

His mother, who declined to give her name, said: "I don't think it's him and I won't believe it's him. He's not a soccer hooligan."

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