DEPUTY Labour leader John Prescott had to deal with an urgent request when he arrived at Chorley railway station.

For loo-king him straight in the eye was local Independent councillor Ralph Snape who explained that Chorley folk are being mighty inconvenienced because there are no toilet facilities at the station.

"We've been campaigning for a toilet at the station for 15 years. It's a disgrace there isn't one," slammed Mr Snape.

Mr Prescott said he would loo-k into it and see what he could do. The deputy Labour leader began his 1996 tour of the country by making a whistle-stop visit to Chorley.

He met Chorley Labour representatives at the railway station to join in the protests against rail privatisation.

He then met the Labour nominations for Chorley's parliamentary seat - so far the four nominees include Lindsay Hoyle, Ray MacManus, Tony Watmough and Christine Jackson. Nominations close today with the vote on February 8.

Mr Prescott visited Market Walk and the covered market chatting to stall-holders and customers who approached him with concerns about education, commerce and employment.

A 70-year-old Chorley lollipop lady, who did not want to be named, was near to tears as she explained: "My 24-year-old grandson died in the prime of his life because of poverty and drugs. I want there to be a choice for young people, something for them to look forward to." Chorley is a key seat in Labour's battle to win the next General Election. Regional organiser of Chorley's Labour group Chris Southward explained: "If Labour gets a six per cent swing, winning key seats in places including Chorley, Blackpool North, Blackpool South and Fleetwood, we'll clinch the next election."

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