A HIGH-LEVEL anti-terrorist briefing has been held for Lancashire's top business people amid fears the county could be the next target for IRA bombers.

Police stepped up their bomb alert with the confidential get-together for more than 100 key guests at Hutton headquarters last night.

Police stations and public buildings throughout the county are already on a high state of alert and car parking restrictions have been introduced to prevent vehicles being parked near to sensitive buildings.

Now the business community has been recruited to the security clampdown.

The last IRA activist convicted of bomb charges on mainland Britain was Feilim O'Hadhmaill, who arrested in Accrington town centre. Police intelligence officers fear terrorist equipment and explosives have been smuggled onto the mainland through ports such as Heysham.

And the county has been targeted by bombers before, with attacks such as the Preston Army Careers Office explosion in the 1980s.

Lancashire's Assistant Chief Constable David Smith said: "Lancashire has been the target for terrorist attacks before and now more than ever we do need the public's co-operation.

"Vigilance is the key to our actions but we do want everyone to support us. My message is 'Help your police to help you."

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