MORE than 70 MPs, including a number of senior Tories, have now backed the campaign to keep the Flying Scotsman in the UK.

A House of Commons Early Day Motion has attracted massive support from across the political divide.

Signatories include Tory shadow Home and Constitutional Affairs Secretary David Davis, Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa May, and Shadow Culture Secretary Julie Kirkbride.

North Yorkshire MPs who have signed up before Friday's deadline for sealed bids to buy the world-famous locomotive, include John Greenway (Ryedale), Hugh Bayley (York) and Anne McIntosh (Vale of York). The motion says MPs are "deeply concerned" at the prospect of the locomotive being sold to an overseas bidder.

The Government is being urged to use lottery money to give the locomotive a home at the National Railway Museum, in York.

East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight, who tabled the motion, said the feeling at Westminster was very strong.

He added: "The Flying Scotsman is part of our railway history and I just hope the Government takes note.

"It's part of our heritage which shouldn't just be preserved, but maintained in working order as well.

"That's why York is an ideal place because their exhibits are not static, they get them back on the main lines."

Last week, the Evening Press revealed peers wanted the Government to safeguard the loco's future.

They called for Ministers to slap an export order on the Flying Scotsman if the highest bidder was from overseas.

This would give the museum the chance to try to raise funds to match the top bid. The musem has already raised more than £220,000.

The Government's culture spokesman in the Lords, Lord McIntosh of Haringey, said there was a "good case" for delaying the export licence.

"It has a close connection with our history and national life," he added.

Updated: 10:47 Tuesday, March 30, 2004