A MUSLIM leader has welcomed the "weakening" of the British National Party's hold in East Lancashire as part of his Christmas message.

The chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, Ibrahim Master, said the fact that the far-right party had lost ground in Burnley was one of the positive highlights of the year.

The BNP's electoral success of the recent years has fallen away in the last 12 months with defeat in two by-elections in Burnley this year.

In his Christmas message, given to highlight the positive links between members of different religious communities, Mr Master said: "There has been much good work done in Lancashire and I am pleased to say that the Lancashire Council of Mosques has contributed as widely and generously as always.

"Some of the highlights for us have been the visits from dignitaries, the hosting of diversity and community cohesion events and the weakening of the BNP's sway over Burnley.

"The Muslim and Christian communities have worked together on many occasions, building bridges and fostering lasting relationships with each other.

"Such actions of friendship and co-operation are all the more important when there is so much unrest and tension in the world."

Mr Master, who is based in Blackburn, said Christians and Muslims had lots in common and Christmas, as well as Eid, gave people of all faiths the chance to reflect on that.

"We may not be able to change how the world lives, but we can try - and the best place to start from is home.

"What better time to start than Eid and Christmas, occasions not only known as times of festivity, but of reflection, sharing and good will."

In October the Liberal Democrats stormed to a landslide victory in the Lanehead by-election as voters turned their backs on the British National Party which saw its vote halved from the May poll.

Liberal candidate Martin Smith polled more than 50 per cent of the vote in the poll which saw the BNP lose the seat, and be pushed into third place in the ward by Labour.

The election was prompted after the party's youngest councillor Luke Smith, 21, walked away from politics after he was suspended from the party for fighting at its annual Red White and Blue Festival in Sawley.

The BNP now has seven councillors.

Leader of the BNP in Burnley, Coun Len Starr, of Hapton with Park ward, said: "There has not been a real weakening of the party.

"We lost one seat in a by-election, which was expected in the circumstances, and the others was not ours to lose.

"We will be back as strong as ever in the New Year."