The BNP's Luke Smith won a seat on Burnley council

The town, together with the neighbouring districts of Hyndburn, Pendle and Rossendale, is launching East Lancs Together to replace the former racial equality council.

East Lancashire has been left without a body to promote racial harmony since 1999 when the racial equality council in the area was wound up following years of internal strife.

Since that time Burnley has seen racially aggravated disturbances in 2001 and a rise in support for the British National Party.

In the May council elections, the party increased its representation to eight councillors in Burnley.

East Lancs Together, is being launched on Monday with the aims of promoting and strengthening unity between different communities in the area.

It will also oversee the community cohesion plans - with funding from the government - to improve understanding, tolerance and respect for different sections of the community.