THE Government must do more to protect local shops and pubs MP Andrew Stephenson believes.

The Pendle Tory has joined 14 Commons colleagues in signing a Westminster motion pressing ministers to act on the issue.

The cross-party move follows the Mary Portas Review of town centre shops which gave £100,000 to revive Nelson’s main shopping area.

The motion reads: “We believe that pubs and local independent shops are vital assets for local communities and note that 12,000 local shops closed in 2009 and that pubs are closing at a rate of 12 a week.

“We welcome the Portas Review.

“We believe that local communities should have the opportunity to retain premises for use as a pub or a local shop if they choose to do so and therefore calls on the Government to review planning regulations to enable communities to support pubs and local independent shops.”