EAST Lancashire Muslims travelling to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage were today warned to be "vigilant" to the danger of terror attacks.

Foreign Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw, who made the call, said he believed terrorist groups were planning further outrages in the Middle Eastern kingdom.

Between 500 and 1,000 Muslims from across Lancashire are expected to make the pilgrimage to Mecca and some 20,000 Britons in total.

Joining them will be a British delegation volunteer doctors and counsellors to provide Hajj pilgrims with consular, medical and pastoral help.

The delegation will be led by Lord Patel of Blackburn.

After suicide bombings at residential compounds in the Saudi capital Riyadh, which killed 52 people in May and November last year, the Foreign Office is warning UK citizens against all but essential travel to the country.

But Mr Straw today stopped short of advising Britons against joining an estimated two million worshippers at the Hajj.

He said individuals should take account of the Foreign Office advice, but "make up their own minds" on whether or not they should travel to Saudi Arabia.

Mr Straw made his comments at the launch of the British Hajj delegation, which will leave for Mecca on tomorrow and is due to return on February 8.

Rafique Malik, deputy chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said: "Everybody has got to be aware of what is going on around us all over the world.

"I don't think what has happened will stop people from going on the pilgrimage but I would say to people to be vigilant."