POPULAR television police series including The Bill and Inspector Morse have been attacked by Bolton Freemasons.

The town's masons are backing a national outcry complaining about the way in which they are portrayed on television.

And in particular the finger is pointed at the popular police shows, which they say, perpetuates the myth that Freemasons are involved in "all kinds of criminal activity".

Editor of the national quarterly magazine Freemasonry Today, John Jackson has led the attack on what he describes as the "disgraceful slurs" on freemasonry.

His is critical of what he describes as "favourite scriptwriters' anti-masonic menu in which lodge chums, comprising a top cop, a dodgy councillor and a local businessman" team up to run illegal operations.

And he claims it is these shows which have prompted the government to go ahead with controversial plans to establish a register of Freemasons in the judiciary.

A spokesman in Bolton said members in the town support Mr Jackson's views. He said: "These shows are always having little digs and we do recognise what Mr Jackson is saying.

"Everytime Freemasons are depicted I tend to think 'here we go again'.

"It is unfair and not founded in fact. If the producers involved would only research what they are doing.

"People keep calling us a secret society, yet we hide nothing. Like every organisation we have a small number of members who break the rules. But one of our central rules is to obey the law.

"And if everyone could adhere to the Freemasons' code of conduct, we would all be better off for it."

Mr Jackson added that his magazine would be fighting plans for a register, adding: "Freemasons have had enough. It is time we hit back. But it requires all of us to band together."