MP GRAHAM Jones has said he believes there is a ‘realistic’ chance of tough new measures designed to tackle metal theft becoming a reality.

The Hyndburn and Haslingden MP has been working on a Private Members Bill which will be considered on Friday, January 20.

He hopes the plans to further regulate Britain’s £5billion-a-year scrap industry will gain Government support and said he was encouraged by comments made by Lord Henley.

The Home Office minister said people selling scrap could be required to register and face identity checks and that cash payments could be banned, to make metal transactions easier to trace.

Hospitals, the rail network, utility companies, churches and war memorials have all been targeted by thieves attracted by the rising prices of non-ferrous metals such as copper.

Mr Jones said: “As part of an agreement with Lord Henley we sent the finished bill in advance three weeks ago for his civil servants to look at.

“I think if it was down to him it would probably get Government support.

“However, there are other ministers involved who are trying to stop the regulation going through.

"The Government has a ‘one in, one out’ approach, where if a new regulation is coming in an old one must go out.

“That’s the way they have said they will conduct Government because they said there was too much red tape.

“But this is an amendment to the 1964 Scrap Metal Dealers Act, not a new bill.

“Private Members Bills normally lose but I’m in a very good position as far as this one goes, with a realistic chance of the Government accepting it.”