HYNDBURN'S MP Greg Pope received the Observer's Back Off Big Brother petition from editor Mervyn Kay on his way to London.

On his arrival, Mr Pope handed the petition of more than 1,000 signatures in at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister this week.

People of all shades of political opinion from right across the borough backed our campaign to stop Hyndburn being taken over by Blackburn with Darwen under plans for local government reorganisation.

Deputy Premier John Prescott will decide within the next few days if the "Big Brother'' takeo-ver will go forward as one of the options for the shake-up that will take place if people vote for a North West Regional Assembly in an autumn referendum.