BLACKBURN'S Racial Equality Council officially re-launches tonight after a year of internal squabbles which had threatened to wreck its community work.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's representatives withdrew from the borough's REC last year. Allegations of misconduct, the suspension of officers and the resignations of former chairman Dr Salim Najia and deputy Janaid Qureshi for "personal reasons" had begun to overshadow its community cohesion work.

A new constitution and board of directors were put in place after the council threatened to remove funding unless the disputes were resolved.

The new-look group will be launched at Audley Community Centre, Chester Street, tonight.

REC chairman, Jamal Patel, said: "We look forward to playing a key role in community cohesion and harmony."

REC director Abdul Chowdry said: "We are proud to announce that our board includes all sections of the community. It has a modern constitution and meaningful programme of work that meets the needs of today.

"There should be no place for discrimination, disadvantage and racial abuse in a civilised society and we are delighted that all our partners have faith and confidence in us.

"We are determined to provide a high quality service to the highest public standard for the communities in the borough regardless of colour or creed."

Key speakers at the relaunch include Foreign Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw, the consul general of both the Indian and Pakistani High Commissions, and the deputy mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Coun David Foster.