RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has written to the Prime Minister asking for extra cash for rural constituencies like his own that voted to leave the European Union.

The strong Brexit supporter contacted Theresa May after reports that she was considering a similar request from a group of Labour MPs representing urban communities.

Blackburn MP Kate Hollern said Mr Evans should have considered the effect on agriculture and his rural seat before the 2016 EU referendum.

Mr Evans said: “Public services are important to everyone, but in rural areas they take on a particular significance.

“Rural constituencies are facing an uphill battle to keep hold of all the necessary resources for day-to-day life.”

In his letter the Tory backbencher tells Mrs May: “There is increasing pressure on rural high streets to keep their shops and banks open, public transport links are dropping at an alarming rate and in outlying villages doctors' surgeries are further apart and often elderly residents face challenging journeys if current services close.”

It continues that in his constituency Slaidburn Health Centre was due to close soon.

The letter says: “The majority of Slaidburn’s patients live around the villages of Slaidburn, Newton, Tosside and Dunsop Bridge, with others spread over an area of 120 square miles.

“After the practice closes, the nearest town with a practice is Clitheroe, which is nearly 10 miles from Slaidburn Health Centre. The area has extremely limited bus services, which severely limits the access to health services outside the immediate area for those without private transport living in this isolated rural setting.

“Additionally, Clitheroe Police Station’s front desk closed in March 2018. The closure has left Ribble Valley residents having to travel to seek face-to-face assistance.

“Crime may be lower in rural areas, but rural forces are significantly more stretched having to cover a greater area.

“Should there be any cash or incentives for constituencies in light of the Brexit deal, I urge you to extend these incentives to all rural constituencies that voted to leave the European Union.”

Labour MP and Remain supporter Mrs Hollern said: “I think it is wrong to put one area against another as Mr Evans is doing.

“Any money to deal with the damaging effects of Brexit must be evenly spread across the whole country.

“Agriculture and rural areas like the Ribble Valley will suffer badly because of leaving the EU and perhaps Mr Evans should have thought about that before campaigning so enthusiastically for Brexit.

“We don’t need divisive politicking but must all pull together to get the deal possible for everyone.”