PENDLE Council is expected to vote for a motion supporting continued vigilance and community cohesion, following attempts by the BNP to win seats on the council at the local elections.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Alan Davies is being proposed as the council's new leader today, after former leader Labour Coun Azhar Ali lost his seat to the Liberal Democrats.

The wins by the Lib Dems led to the council remaining a hung council, comprising 23 Liberal Democrats, 14 Labour, 11 Conservative and one Independent.

The BNP failed to secure any of the four seats they contested but snatched second place in three wards -- Clover Hill, Coates and Vivary Bridge. During the full council meeting today, Coun Davies is moving a motion to encourage community cohesion.

He is expected to say: "This council welcomes the rejection by the voters of those candidates at this year's elections who sought to stir up and profit by divisions within the local community.

"It urges continued vigilance and rational argument against those forces which can only be divisive and detrimental to community cohesion an good community relations in Pendle and so to the future well-being and prosperity of local people.

"In an attempt to further enhance community cohesion in Pendle it instructs the director (community engagement) to consider and report on possible practical things that can be done to help further break down barriers between individuals in different communities; to encourage and stimulate greater mutual understanding and assistance, and social interaction and friendships between members of different communities."