A REPORT has named Burnley and Pendle among the boroughs in England most at risk from "far-right extremism."

The study, carried out by Hope Not Hate, claimed that factors including economic shocks, less positive attitudes to multiculturalism and the impact of the pandemic have all combined to make Pendle the 10th most vulnerable borough in England to extreme right-wing influence and Burnley the 20th.

This, the charity warns, could manifest itself by the increased presence of extremist groups like the English Defence League, Britain First and others.

Responding to the report, Burnley Council leader and Building Bridges in Burnley chair Afrasiab Anwar and: "When you look at the areas that have been hardest hit, it is in the Lancashire towns it's really laid bare the inequalities that existed.

"When that happens, economically when people are not doing well then a scapegoat is found.

"We saw that during the pandemic that in some of our areas when cases started to rise, scapegoating occurred."

He added: "From our point of view, from a Burnley perspective there needs to be investment in the wider issues.

"If the government are serious there needs to be investment in the wider issues around education and around inclusivity."

All together the charity's Building Back Resilient report listed 52 boroughs across the country where challenges to community relations were likely to be worsened by the fall-out of the Covid-19 crisis.

The researchers said the top 20 of these, including Burnley, Pendle, Bolton and Rochdale, are most vulnerable to rising community tensions and possible far-right support, partly because they have had high rates of unemployment and benefit claims since the start of pandemic.

Blackburn with Darwen is outside the 52, but "could also struggle" according to the report.

The report lists Blackpool as the most vulnerable borough, followed by Harlow, Luton, Sandwell and Barking and Dagenham.

Such pressures, Hope Not Hate claims, could stretch scare funding sources further still, putting community relations under yet more strain.

As such, the charity says that the government must do more to tackle the root causes of extremism in communities like those in East Lancashire.

Cllr Anwar said that events like Interfaith Week, which begins with Remembrance Day, can be part of the solution.

He said: "These are annual events which we have and despite the lack of resources and lack of funding, the community and voluntary sector has really stepped up and that needs to be recognised."

Hope Not Hate came to similar conclusions.

A statement issued by the charity said: "From our engagement with community leaders and decision-makers in the 52 at risk areas, it was clear that recovery support from central government must be geared towards enabling integration and strengthening the social fabric.

"These is a need for additional support and funding for the third sector, for designated resources for neighbourhood cohesion roles, for a longer term approach to funding, and for greater investment in young people and skills."