A SUCCESSFUL singles event which helps professional Muslim people meet their future wife or husband is coming to Blackburn.

The Professional Muslim Singles Matrimonial Events, the brainchild of global management consultant Kamran A. Beg, began in Manchester last July and have already seen four UK couples marry and a further eleven engaged.

The events, catering specifically for professionals, such as doctors, businessmen and accountants, allow Kamran and his associates to act as "surrogate guardians" or chaperones, taking the place of people's parents.

Kamran, 35, was requested to organise the events by parents across the UK, and their professional children, many of whom are short of time to meet a suitable partner with their parents and prohibited by their religion from dating.

The graduate of the Manchester Business School said: "The professional Muslim singles evening has been inspired by, and structured, according to a framework designed to optimise your chances of meeting and conversing with like-minded, potential matrimonial candidates."

The evenings are by invitation only, which allows the guests to be vetted with a telephone and written interview.

The evening is split into two parts. The first stage sees a group of three men and and three women sitting opposite each other for a formal meal. Here they can interact with one another and then talk one-to-one in the second stage of the evening.

If a couple want to meet again the man is interviewed by a chaperone and the responses to certain questions given to the woman. The same happens for the woman but she is allowed to be given the man's mobile telephone number. Ibrahim Master, chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said: "To say people do not have the time to arrange a marriage through their parents is untrue.

"The organisers need to ensure the facility is not abused. I also think the supervisors need to be a similar age to the parents of these people."

The event takes place at the Blue Diamond Indian Cuisine, Whalley New Road, on May 16.

For more information on professional matrimonial evenings visit the website www.kamranabegevents.com.