One of East Lancashire's conservative MPs is among 50 northern backbenchers who have written to the Prime Minister demanding a 'clear road-map' out of lockdown for the North.

Boris Johnson has been warned by more than 50 Tory MPs, that the coronavirus crisis is threatening his pledge to 'level-up' the country and could 'send the North into reverse'.

Led by former northern powerhouse minister Jake Berry, The Northern Research Group (NRG), has written to the Prime Minister expressing their concerns, and urging Mr Johnson to set out a 'clear road-map' out of lockdown and to develop an economic recovery plan for the North.

They are also urging the Government to prioritise key infrastructure projects and to accelerate job creation in the region.

Mr Berry, who represents Rossendale and Darwen, said: “Our party’s return to Government in December was won on the back of hard-working people in constituencies like ours who backed the Conservatives for the first time in a generation, and who did so on the promise that they would not be forgotten.

“We cannot forget that we must deliver on our commitments made during that election, to level-up northern communities and create opportunity across our region.”

A North-South divide has emerged with the Government’s coronavirus tier system, as all areas under the strictest restrictions are in the North and Midlands, and Mr Berry has said the North has seen 'a level of disruption unparalleled with other parts of the country' because of the pandemic.

He added: “The virus has exposed in sharp relief the deep structural and systemic disadvantage faced by our communities and it threatens to continue to increase the disparity between the North and South still further.

“Our constituents have been some of the hardest hit by this virus with many losing jobs, businesses, and livelihoods.

“Never has there been a more pertinent and urgent political and economic case to support people living in the North.

“However, instead of moving forwards on our shared ambitions, the cost of Covid and the virus itself threatens to send the North into reverse.”

Some 40 Conservative MPs, including Hyndburn MP Sara Britcliffe, have publicly signed the letter, while a further 14 have had their names redacted.

Miss Britcliffe said: “This is not in any sense critical of the government.

“It was sent to support it and its levelling up agenda and make the case for investment in the North which has been under coronavirus restrictions.

“We were elected as Northern representatives and we are making the compelling case for investment in our communities, in particular places like Hyndburn and Haslingden.

“We want to ensure that the levelling up agenda of the government gives our communities the same opportunities as those who live in the South.

“I think as Northern representatives we are here to make that compelling case for that investment in our communities.”

Mr Johnson won a majority of 80 seats at last year’s general election, turning many traditional Labour constituencies – which formed the so-called Red Wall – blue.

Some MPs have expressed concern that these newly won seats could be returned to Labour at the next election if the Government fails to deliver on its promise to 'level up' the country.

A Number 10 spokesman said: “We are absolutely committed to levelling up across the country and building back better after coronavirus.

“We stood at the last election on a solemn promise that we would improve people’s lives, and although the pandemic has meant 2020 is not the year we all hoped it would be, our ambitions for the country are unchanged.”