AN East Lancashire MP today slammed plans for equine passports as 'completely ludicrous.'

And Tory MP Nigel Evans has called on ministers to block the European Union scheme to force all horses, ponies and donkeys to have passports, creating costs and inconvenience for thousands of Lancashire owners.

The Ribble Valley MP alleged that the only reason for the new scheme is because the French eat the animals.

Recently, Welsh Agriculture Minister Don Touhig was tackled on the issue at Welsh Questions, which Mr Evans attended as Shadow Welsh Secretary.

Mr Touhig promised to raise the issue at the Department for The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Mr Evans said: "This latest piece of Euro-nonsense is only being forced on us because the French eat their horses. British horse owners will not stomach extra red tape just to satisfy the deeply unsatisfactory eating habits of the French.

"This is a completely ludicrous idea. It started in Brussels and has been gold-plated by the British Government.

"The only reason is because the French eat horses and are worried about drugs."

"We don't eat horses and we don't need horse passports.

"Racehorses already have them, but I don't see why thousands of horse lovers and horse owners in Lancashire should face the extra cost and inconvenience of this bureaucracy gone mad.

"The Lancashire rural community has already been hit hard by this government and the last things it needs is more Euro-gobbledegook."

A spokesman for the European Commission said: "From the end of this year all horses will have to carry documentation. It is unfortunate to call it a passport.

"The primary aim to stop drugs used in racehorses coming into the human food chain.

"The aim is to stop certain animal drugs being used on horses destined for human consumption."