EURO sceptics have denied they are running scared after being blasted by a political opponent.

And they say they are prepared to have a public debate in Chorley.

The UK Independence Party was criticised by Chorley Euro MP Chris Davies.

The Liberal Democrat, a leading North West advocate for Britain's membership of the European single currency, challenged sceptics to meet him on a public platform.

But the UKIP pulled out of plans for a debate due to comments made about them by the MEP.

Now the UKIP has taken up the challenge.

UKIP press officer Val Cowell told the Citizen: "How would Mr Davies like a debate in Chorley with a local businessman against him -- Colin Heaton a member of our party?

"If he desperately wants, we can meet that, probably next week."

Mr Davies has already taken part in three debates with the UKIP in Stockport, Fleetwood and Carlisle.

He said: "I would have welcomed an early debate in Chorley. The three public meetings we have held so far were all organised by the UK Independence Party and packed with their supporters, but in each case those who came with genuinely opens minds came round to my side by the end of the evening."

Val Cowell said there had never been plans to hold a public debate in Chorley and that Mr Davies wanted further debates in Liverpool and East Lancashire.

She claimed that, at Fleetwood, 200 people attended of which only around 20 were UKIP members.