CHORLEY MP Lindsay Hoyle staged a u-turn in last night's Commons vote on war, voting with Tony Blair against rebel MPs after he told the Citizen he could not back the government.

The Labour MP looked likely to join last night's Commons rebellion over military action against Iraq.

Speaking before the war vote, he told the Citizen that he could not support the Government.

But after a private last-minute meeting with Tony Blair, Mr Hoyle decided to vote in favour of launching an offensive on Iraq.

Mr Hoyle, who abstained in the first Commons vote over the war last week, initially said he would either do so again or oppose the Government. He said on Tuesday afternoon: "It is going to be a difficult decision. I don't think I can support the Government."

Mr Hoyle, however, said he would be "fully supportive" if British troops were sent into war.

The MP said he would have preferred more diplomacy and talks. "Maybe another attempt at trying to bring the United Nations on board would have appeased a lot of my colleagues," he said.

"I have always believed there should have been a second resolution."

The vote took place in the House of Commons at 10pm last night and the government smashed a bid by rebel MPs to scupper the war by 396 votes to 217 -- a majority of 179.

Mr Hoyle decided to vote with the Government after being reassured by Mr Blair that a full UN aid package would be available to Iraq after the war and that any money gained from the country's vast oil supplies would be channelled back to Iraq and would not used for American interests.

Meanwhile local religious leaders look set to meet for talks after a move to maintain inter-faith relations backfired.

The Rector of Chorley, the Rev Doctor John Cree wrote to local Muslim leaders emphasising that the looming war was a political conflict. He acknowledged the theological differences between the religious groups, but urged them to continue to discuss them 'within the context of mutual respect'.

But Max Allam, vice-president of the local council's ethnic minority consultancy committee, said the letter undermined the Muslim faith.

He said it was "deeply disturbing" and that he would meet Mr Cree to discuss it.

The letter points out the strong opposition to war expressed by Christian bishops.

Ex-serviceman Mr Cree, of St Laurence's Parish Church, wrote: "Regrettably there are those in the wider world who would seek to ferment trouble between the two great faith groups of Islam and Christianity.

"It is therefore important that Muslims and Christians in Chorley continue to work in order that the problem of war with Iraq is not presented as a Christian versus Muslim conflict."

But Mr Allam said that, however good the intention, the letter may insult people who have little political knowledge and actually encourage tension.

He said: "Muslims do not think this war is between them and Christians."

And he said Muslims had no intention of stopping "the good relationship" they had with Christians.

"Twenty five per cent of Iraqis are Christians and Christ is a Muslim prophet, you have to believe in Christ to believe in Mohammed.

"To suggest that Muslims don't understand that the war is not a religious one is just creating conflict," said Mr Allam.

Mr Cree said the meaning of the letter may have been misconstrued and he would welcome a meeting with Mr Allam.