EAST Lancashire MPs Peter Pike and Gordon Prentice have urged the government to boost cross-Pennine road and rail links to the area.

They tackled Transport Secretary Alaistair Darling and his Junior Minister David Jamieson on the issue in the Commons.

Burnley MP Mr Pike told Mr Darling that invesment in motorways and trunk roads was essential for securing jobs and investment in Burnley and East Lancashire.

He said: "The M65 going east ends in Colne, in the Pendle constituency. I have always wanted it to go into Yorkshire.

Since that is not going to happen, will he ensure that the necessary bypasses are built on A-roads and trunk roads from Pendle into Yorkshire to ensure that communications are better on that side of the country?

"The M62 is too far south and makes a long diversion for much of our industrial traffic."

Mr Darling replied: "I understand the problem. We shall spend something like £13billion over 10 years on new construction that is necessary to improve access and help industry in various parts of the country.

"Choices must be made, however, and it is not possible to do all the things that everybody wants."

Mr Prentice then tackled Mr Jamieson on the possibility of reopening the Skipton to Colne and Skipton to Grassington railways.

The minister said that the strategic rail authorities latest plan for developing the rail network did not include reopening the Skipton to Colne line or the Skipton to Grassington line for passenger services.

Mr Prentice said: "That is very disappointing. Will you accept that now that the Countryside Agency is calling for the opening of those two lines, we ought to press ahead and get trains running on them?

"The Yorkshire Dales National Park is out of bounds to thousands of people without access to a car.

"If these railways were reopened, that would introduce the countryside to the thousands of my constituents who have never been there."

Mr Jamieson replied: "I recognise your concern and the government recognise that there is great value in reopening railway lines when that is appropriate.

"However, you will appreciate that for both these lines, in particular the Skipton to Colne line that is currently not in use, it is a matter for those locally, and for the local authority in particular to formulate a plan and make it known to the SRA, so that we can implement it.

"As you know, the SRA is currently holding discussions to gauge interest in reopening the line in the longer term, but it has no plans at present to do so.

"If local authorities come up with a plan for the Skipton to Grassington line, it can be looked at carefully to meet your ambitions and those of your constituents."