EAST Lancashire MPs have welcomed the idea of compulsory identity cards, despite the Cabinet opposition of their Blackburn colleague Jack Straw.

The Foreign Secretary led hostility to an early adoption of the idea by the Government, but yesterday his successor as Home Secretary, David Blunkett, made clear that he intends to pave the way for their introduction.

Although he said no final decision on compulsory cards will be taken for 10 years, he told the Commons that work to create the basis of an ID system would be laid before then by introducing "biometric'' passports and driving licences with details such as fingerprints, iris scans, and facial recognition details, stored on a massive computer database.

Local Labour MPs Gordon Prentice and Janet Anderson have been joined by Ribble Valley Tory Nigel Evans in welcoming the move.

Pendle's Mr Prentice said: "I am backing the cards.

"Identity fraud is a huge issue costing the nation about £1.3million.

"People are out there ripping off the system using fraudulent identities. That's got to stop."

Mr Evans said: "I am sympathetic to identity cards. This is something we should work on. If we have them, they will have to be compulsory."

Rossendale and Darwen MP Mrs Anderson said: "I'm in favour. I think it would help combat illegal immigration and benefit fraud. It is something that should be pursued with vigour."