MP ANDY Burnham has gone to Westminster this week to call for more help to find a permanent home for Leigh's ex-servicemen.

The last post for the Leigh branch of the Royal British Legion was sounded nearly four years ago when the Windermere Street premises was sold by the RBL.

The branch has been based at their temporary home at Leigh Conservative Club ever since but the Leigh MP was determined to raise their plight at a debate on veterans' affairs at the House of Commons yesterday.

He urged the national Royal British Legion association to work with Leigh members to find ways of re-establishing a permanent home for Leigh Royal British Legion.

Mr Burnham said: "It is so important that we support the organisations who help us to remember them. Despite recent difficulties, the Leigh Branch of the Royal British Legion is going strong and a town like ours should have a permanent base for them.

"The local members deserve our support and I will be urging the national British Legion organisation to give them whatever help they can."

John Kelly, secretary of Leigh Royal British Legion, criticised national RBL leaders after they were told that they would not receive funding for a permanent home until they had between 300-400 people.

At present they have 26 members.

Mr Kelly said: "We support the help from Mr Burnham, it is very much appreciated by everyone connected with the branch. How can we attract new members when we don't have a permanent home?

"We are very happy at the Conservative Club though. They have looked after us ever since we have been there, and have put on good food for all members at our monthly meetings."

The MP also called for more financial support for veterans' and in particular raised a concern made by Leigh veterans who believe that more of the War Pension should be disregarded for benefits purposes.

But Mr Burnham welcomed Home Secretary David Blunkett's decision to award a free passport to all over 75s in recognition of the war effort of the older generation.

He also paid tribute to the 1,800 servicemen and women from the borough who lost their lives in the Second World War -- and the thousands of other veterans' who survived the six year conflict.

And he welcomed the decision by council bosses to grant parading rights in the borough to the Queen's Lancashire Regiment.

Mr Burnham said: "Our area has a proud tradition of service in the armed forces. So many local people and families made sacrifices sixty years ago so that my generation could live in a free and democratic society. In our more selfish era, it is humbling to think of what they did for us and the enormous debt we owe them."

Prospective members who wish to join the RBL in Leigh should contact secretary John Kelly on 01942 673 397.