BLACKBURN will be given a six-figure windfall to help the area deal with right wing extremism.

The council has been chosen to lead the way with tackling community integration issues following its response to the English Defence League protest last April.

Council leader Kate Hollern welcomed the funding boost to tackle ‘the menace’ of the EDL and far-right organisations.

The high-profile 2011 demo was Lancashire Police’s biggest ever operation, but passed off without major incident.

EDL leader Tommy Robinson was later convicted of headbutting one of his own group during a flashpoint, but violence between rival protesters was minimal, as was damage to the town.

Along with Luton, which has a strong far-right presence, Blackburn with Darwen Council has been allocated more than £200,000 to counter community divisions.

The cash, from the Government’s Department for Communities and Local Government, will be spent on community projects to encourage integration.

It will build on work done by the council, police and partners around the EDL demo, which included events to keep teenagers out of the town centre and involved in positive activity. Community groups looking to start up cohesion projects will be able to bid for money.

The rise in prominence of far right extremist groups such as the EDL has increased tensions in East Lancashire towns with strong Muslim communities.

It has led to officers running the ground-breaking counter-terrorism programme Channel to redraft guidance to take into account the growing threat.

Parents, teachers, community leaders and police officers are now referring children and young adults who they feel may be at risk of being radicalised by groups such as the English Defence League.

Coun Hollern said: “We are delighted that the Government has asked BwD to lead a national special interest group of councils on integration and cohesion, working closely with Luton Borough Council.

“In particular this reflects our hard work with local people and local partners on tackling the continuing menace of the EDL and other extreme far right groups.

“The country faces many risks on extremism and this project recognises these risks are not just from one community, and that BwD is a leading council in providing solutions on the ground.”