The £1 million bill for the police investigation into the Morecambe Bay cockle disaster should not be met by Lancaster and Morecambe residents, the Government has been told.

In a House of Commons debate on the Gangmasters Bill, Morecambe and Lunesdale MP Geraldine Smith said the tradegy not only cost lives but landed Lancashire Police with a hefty bill.

She urged the Government for cash to foot the investigation costs last Friday.

"The events at Morecambe Bay shocked and shamed the nation. There was not just a human cost but we are faced with a police bill of £1 million to date, and the investigation continues," she told Parliament.

"I should like to see the Government pick up the cost of that. They have been helpful and given a grant of £200,000, but Morecambe Bay was a national tragedy so it should not be the people of Morecambe who suffer in their policing and have to foot that bill," she said.

"I appeal for more help in paying."

The Gangmasters Bill took another step closer to becoming law as MPs voted it through its third reading. It will now move to the House of Lords for debate.

Jim Sheridan, MP for Renfrewshire West, introduced the private members' bill in January. It has been backed all the way by Ms Smith.

It is designed to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable groups of workers and regulate the activities of gangmasters.