BLACKBURN’S passport office will be used to process applications for controversial ID cards, it has been announced.

The Government has chosen the town’s control centre, in Ainsworth Street, to handle forms from February.

From next month, people in Lancashire will join those in Greater Manchester in being able to apply for ID cards.

However, despite the announcement by Home Secretary Alan Johnson, the Home Office said it could not confirm how many jobs it would create at the Blackburn office.

And the move was cautiously welcomed by Blackburn with Darwen Council leader and Conservative Mike Lee.

Nationally, the Tories have argued that ID cards are a needless and costly, and would not make Britain any safer.

Coun Lee said: “I am no great supporter of ID cards but if the Home Office is going to create new jobs in Blackburn, I will take them.

“I don’t see ID cards as being worth the expense involved because we have already got a good pass-port system.

“However, if it has to happen, I would rather this proc-essing happens in Blackburn than elsewhere.”

From next month, East Lancashire residents will be able to get the non-compulsory ID cards for £30 following a month-long trial in Greater Manchester.

The Government says the cards will improve border security and allow British citizens to travel in the EU without a passport.

This week, Mr Johnson told the House of Commons ID cards would be launched in Blackburn to ‘great public enthusiasm’.

Jack Straw, Blackburn MP, said he would be among the first people to apply for one of the cards.

He said: “The office will be of great convenience to people in the town.

“I will get one because it will be more convenient than a passport when I travel in Europe.”

A Home Office spokeswoman said she could not say how many new jobs would be created at Blackburn’s passport office by the ID card rollout.