RURAL communities must not be disadvantaged by poor mobile phone reception, an MP has warned.

Mobile phone users should receive the same level of service whether they were in town or country, suggested Jake Berry, MP for Rossendale and Darwen, Lancashire.

Mr Berry is calling on local people to help map "real" phone reception across his constituency.

He is asking smart phone and tablet users to download the RootMetrics app and use it while they are at home and – in particular – out and about in rural areas.

The Rootmetrics app, which tests the strength of mobile phone signals, can be used to check which company provides the best service.

Mr Berry said: "Everyone pays the same for their phone package, but reception is very variable and many of us in Rossendale and Darwen are not getting a good deal.

"I would like to encourage as many people as possible to download the app so that we can ensure we're not forgotten by phone companies."

It was important that local people benefited from the government's £150m mobile phone infrastructure project, said Mr Berry.

Data from the RootMetrics project, which is taking place across the country, will be used to lobby the government and mobile phone companies to improve reception.

RootMetrics chief executive Bill Moore said: "Mobile phone users on the same network and tariff should receive the same level of service and customer experience, regardless of location."

Last autumn, telecoms watchdog Ofcom pledged to help improve rural mobile coverage.

The five-point plan includes an undertaking to extend coverage to the 10% of the UK population who live in so-called hard-to-reach rural areas.

The Countryside Alliance launched a "Sick of No Signal" campaign last year to try to map the reality of mobile phone not-spots in the countryside.

Alliance chairman Barney White-Spunner said: "It is very important that we can prove that some people living in the countryside are not getting a good deal from their phone service providers.

"The rates of phone coverage quoted by phone companies are a best case scenario."

For further information on how to use the app and to see results so far, visit www.rootmetrics.com/uk