A WAR of words has started between Worcester Tory prospective parliamentary candidate Robin Walker and city MP Mike Foster after Mr Walker accused Labour of "letting people down" on law and order.

It is the first attack by Mr Walker on the Labour MP aginst whom he will go head-to-head at the next General Election.

Mr Walker, in a letter to the Worcester News, said Mike Foster had made a mistake in campaigning against fox hunting and helping create new laws which had "increased police paperwork".

The remarks have been rubbished by Mr Foster, who says crime has fallen over the past few years.

Mr Walker said: "Sadly, the party for which he sits in parliament as a whip has been letting down the people of Worcester and the country at large for nine years on law and order.

"While Mr Foster has been spending his time campaigning against fox-hunting and creating new crimes that add to an unnecessary extra burden to our police force, his Government has been creating a legislative environment in which it is impossible for police to do their jobs properly."

He said police officers had to "spend hours filling in forms at their desks" rather than dealing with street crimes.

"People in Worcester need police on the streets and our Labour Government is letting them down," he said.

The 28-year old is the son of former Tory MP Lord Walker, who held the Worcester seat for more than 30 years.

Mr Foster said: "Master Walker has made a schoolboy error. Crime has fallen, police numbers have increased and extra community support officers are on the streets now.

"This was not an accident - it was created by this Government, and all of these reforms were voted against by Tories.

"I'm disappointed Robin Walker doesn't seem to realise what's been going on - from his home in London, he's trying to tell people what's been going on in Worcester."

Mr Foster was given a promotion to the whips' office when Tony Blair reshuffled his Government after the May local elections.