A LEADING Muslim community leader has called on people to unite and defeat the "cancer" of the BNP.

Jehan Ali, imam of the Abu Bakr Mosque, was speaking at the inaugural meeting of a new anti-fascism group, set up to urge people to use their vote in June to keep out the BNP.

The Burnley branch of Unite Against Fascism - a coalition of organisations including trade unions, political parties and faith groups - is mounting a campaign against the far right party in the run up to the local and European elections on Thursday, June 10.

Mr Ali told around 70 people at a meeting at Friendship Centre, in Burnley Baptist Church, Colne Road, last night: "The BNP thrives on disaffection and discontent and they have no real solution to Burnley's problems. They are hijacking our community. They are like a cancer and we have to remove it before it spreads and destroys our society."

Ayeshah Jones, from Unite Against Fascism and the New Muslim Project, added: "We feel that we really have to kick the BNP out in Burnley once and for all.

"People are very disillusioned with the mainstream political parties but they don't understand that by not voting they are going to make things worse."

For more information, visit www.burnley.org.uk