THE Bishop of Blackburn fears an "addiction to consumerism" is overshadowing the story of Christmas.

The Rt Rev Nicholas Reade will make the warning to East Lancashire congregat-ions over the festive period - and will attack people's pursuit of the "hollow consumerism dream."

Confirming his annual Christmas message, he said: "True Christmas, true Christian values are embedded not in greed, not in wealth, not in power, but in the simple story of a child born into utter poverty.

"What a contrast to our shopping culture and what a contrasting image - in our age of images - between a pregnant young woman obedient to God, and the driven - yes, perhaps fearful - people hurling themselves across the Atlantic at great cost to the environment and to themselves in search of slightly cheaper fashion goods they could really do without."

He added: "Somehow we need to get the message out loudly and clearly. Christmas is all about the gift of love; not the giving of things."

The Bishop will also use his sermons to highlight the "real and very demonic fear" of fam- ilies that Christmas will drive them further into debt as the pressure mounts to provide "must-haves" for their family.

But he will add that the "good news" of the birth of Jesus can counter fear "in a world dominated by international terrorism that leads to suspicion and a loss of perspective."

Chairman of Lancashire Council of Mosques Hamid Qureshi said he "applauded the sentiments" of the Bishop.

"With Eid it's about giving thanks to God, and giving small gifts is OK, but making it compulsory becomes difficult, and he is making a sensible point."

Mike Damms, chief executive of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce said that he identified with the message.

But he said the 1,000 traders his organisation represents strived to "get the balance right".

The Bishop of Blackburn's comments come days after the Bishop of Burnley, the Rt Rev John Goddard, hit out at the absence of religion from this year's Christmas cards.