EAST Lancashire Tory MP Nigel Evans wants deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to visit his Ribble Valley constituency to look at the damage that could be done by concreting over the countryside.

He said that Tony Blair's number two should look at the effect of building 1,000 homes in and around Whittingham Hospital before he gives the green light to the project.

Mr Evans has seized upon a promise from Mr Prescott to visit Peter Pike's Burnley constituency in the near future to look at housing and jobless problems.

The promise was given when the deputy Prime Minister stood in for Mr Blair at Question Time.

Mr Evans said: "There is a desire to build up to 1,000 homes on the Whittingham Hospital site and surrounding green fields.

"If carried out this would ruin the picturesque Ribble Valley countryside, covering green fields with tarmac and tyres."

"The proposed development, which also includes the construction of a bypass to accommodate the increased flow of traffic, is insane when considering that in neighbouring Burnley there are some 3,500 houses lying empty. It is clear that there is no shortage of housing, but rather an over-eagerness to build on Green Belt land.

"Our countryside is a scarce resource. Its very existence is becoming threatened by over-zealous house builders who are encouraged by government which rules 'rural Britain' from 'Metropolitan London.'

"John Prescott this week in Prime Minister's Question Time gave a commitment to come and visit Lancashire. I have written to him challenging him to come and see for himself the devastation which will be visited on our precious countryside if yet more green fields are lost to housing."