A FORMER Worcester MP who served the city for 13 years has penned his own impassioned EU open letter - urging people to back Remain for "our children and future generations".

Mike Foster, Worcester's first ever Labour MP, has waded into the referendum debate by saying he "cares too much to stay out".

Mr Foster, a former international development minister, represented the city in the Commons from 1997 to 2010 before defeat at the hands of Robin Walker.

The 53-year-old said he felt the decision is "too important to ignore" and that "the average working family" in Worcester would be hit by an economic crash if Leave wins.

In his open letter, he says: "Membership of the EU brings us jobs, growth and investment, protects workers and consumers and helps keep us safe.

"Leaving would put that all at risk and diminish our world influence.

"The EU is by far the UK's largest trading partner and the world's largest single market.

"Half our exports go to EU countries, worth over £200 billion a year.

"Over three million British jobs are linked to this trade, 250,000 in the West Midlands alone.

"We receive around £24 billion of investment a year from other EU countries and the Treasury predict the average household would be £4,300 a year worse off if Britain left.

"And we'd need to renegotiate our trading agreement.

"We'd be forced to accept the same rules, at best, of the EU as Norway does but we would have no say in making those rules.

"We'd have to pay to the EU, again as Norway does, but have no say.

"Having had the honour of representing the UK in Ministerial Council meetings, having 'a say' matters - being a rule maker is always better than just a rule taker."

He said some of the EU law benefits included workers rights as well as mobile phone roaming, consumer protection and beach environmental standards.

Mr Foster also raised the haunting spectre of past conflicts, saying he considers himself part of a "lucky generation" that avoided war.

"I come from a lucky generation - my life has not been touched by conflict in the same way as that of my parents and grandparents," he said.

"The EU, an institution that arose from the ending of the Second World War has been instrumental in securing peace and stability to our continent.

"For our children and future generations I urge you, whether you ever voted for me or not to vote Remain."

His argument comes after prominent members of the Leave camp accused Remain of "trying to scare people".

Conservative Liam Fox said the EU vote should not be "stoked by fear".