MP Kitty Ussher is to take the fight to save one of Padiham's fire crews to Westminster.

The borough's MP branded plans which could see one of the retained crews done away with as madness' and vowed to raise the issue in the House of Commons.

Lancashire Fire Authority is proposing to cut the number of crews at the station from two as part of a review of its services which could see three East Lancashire fire stations close and dozens of retained firefighters lost.

Since the announcement in July, Padihamers and Mrs Ussher have been campaigning against the proposals.

The MP said it was imperative to retain Padiham's crews because they not only covered the town, but also more rural areas as well as supporting firefighters in Burnley and Pendle.

She said: "The fire station not only covers Padiham but areas like Read and Simonstone as well as increasingly supporting Burnley fire station and having to go to Pendle.

"It seems madness to cut that capacity. I will raise it in the Commons and will be asking questions what can be done."

The plan, suggested by fire chiefs, is currently going through a public consultation. A final decision will be made by he fire authority on December 18 and if approved, the plans, which critics claim will cost lives, could also see: l Axeing retained crews at Accrington and Haslingden l One of the two retained crews at Great Harwood, Barnoldswick and Colne being lost l Closing Haslingden fire station with no replacement, and calls being mainly handled by Rawtenstall l Closing Earby and Barnoldswick stations, and building just one replacement in the Salterforth area.

l A new Burnley fire station being built in the town.

More than 1,000 people have already signed a petition against the cuts. They have been joined by Jayne Waddington, whose daughters Louise, 11, Hayley, 10, and Gemma, seven, died when fire ravaged their home in Lancaster Drive, Hapton, in February 2004.

Mrs Waddington said it took firefighters from Padiham 12 minutes to arrive and warned that could be doubled if one of the crews was axed.

She said: "I wouldn't want to see anyone else have to go through the same thing we have suffered and I worry that that could happen if the town loses one of its fire crews."