ASIAN leaders today condemned a secret visit to a Blackburn community centre by Britain's most controversial Muslim cleric.

They feared Sheikh Abu Hamza's trip to East Lancashire could destroy race relations in the town and urged him not to come back.

The hook-handed preacher, whose militant views on topics such as September 11 have brought calls for him to be kicked out of the UK, appeared at an open forum at the council-owned Bangor Street Community Centre.

He is banned from his mosque in Finsbury Park, London, for his consistently inflammatory views and has previously been arrested by Scotland Yard and questioned about suspected terrorist acts in Yemen.

According to witnesses, he spoke for around an hour and a half against UK and US governments and war with Iraq in front of around 100 people on Monday evening.

It is believed he travelled back to London with his small group of supporters the following morning.

The event was organised by the local branch of Al Risala, a group which is said to promote the message of Islam and peace.

It is understood news of Hamza's visit was passed around by word of mouth, taking Blackburn with Darwen Council by surprise.

Council officers are now looking at changing the rules on allowing controversial speakers at council-owned premises.

Chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, Ibrahim Masters, said he was unaware of Hamza's visit until the following day.

He said: "The views of Abu Hamza absolutely do not reflect the views of the majority of Muslims in the UK and in East Lancashire.

"I'm worried this could upset excellent race relations and work which has gone on in the area."

Coun Mohammed Khan, Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member for housing and neighbourhoods said: "The council was unaware Sheikh Abu Hamza was due to speak. As he arrived, a council member of staff contacted the police. Our staff acted immediately and correctly. The meeting passed incident free.

"It was organised by an interfaith discussion group who have been using the centre for ten years."

Council leader Bill Taylor said: "Given the delicate nature of international relations, it seems wholly inappropriate to invite such a person."

A police spokesman added: "We found out just before he was about to speak. We sent a police presence to ensure there was no interruption or disturbance."

"We were not involved in any discussion on whether it should take place."

Blackburn man Tasiddiq Rehman, who is organising an anti-war rally in the town on March 22, attended the meeting. He said: "He turned up and gave a speech on Iraq to get across the anti-war message."

Condemned by many Muslims as too extreme, Hamza denies any involvement in terrorism. But the 44-year-old justified the attacks in New York and Washington in September 2001.

After last month's Space Shuttle crash in the US, he is reported to have said God had destroyed the Columbia because it was carrying American Christians, an Indian-born Hindu and an Israeli Jew.

Last month, he was removed from his position as an agent of Finsbury Park Mosque by the Charities Commission, which said its decision was based on his consistently inflammatory remarks.

Nobody at the Al Risala group was available for comment.