HOME Secretary Jack Straw is poised to bring the fight against football hooliganism right into the heart of East Lancashire.

The Blackburn MP will spearhead a major international conference which will take place at Ewood Park on the eve of next year's World Cup in France.

Experts on hooliganism from across Europe will attend the seminar which will play a key part in forging a strategy to prevent trouble during the sporting spectacular.

The conference could also play a major role in helping England's bid to host the World Cup in the year 2006.

Mr Straw will launch the event in his role as chairman of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union.

He said: "The Government is committed to ways of improving on the good progress that has been made in tackling football hooliganism. "We have a wealth of experience in dealing with major tournaments following the success of Euro '96.

"The seminar in Blackburn will build on this and will be a chance for Britain and other European countries to prepare for the World Cup."

Britain will be taking over the presidency of the European Union in January for six months and Mr Straw, who is a Blackburn Rovers supporter, said he was keen to involve his own constituency.

He was also hoping the event would help England's official bid to stage the 2006 World Cup.

The conference, which will take place in February or March, will focus on developing close links between the French and British authorities to ensure the tournament's success.

Mr Straw was in Paris today to discuss the seminar with his French counterpart, the Interior Minister, Jean Pierre Chevenement. He was also due to meet other top-level French justice ministers tomorrow.

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