RELIGIOUS leaders joined Burnley residents for an anti-war vigil in the town's Peace Garden.

The Bishop of Burnley, the Rt Rev John Goddard, and Imam of the Brougham Street mosque, led prayers at the event.

More than 50 people of all ages gathered on the Place de Vitry, outside Burnley's Central Library, to show their opposition to the threat of war with Iraq.

They were asked by the Bishop to link hands in a chain of humanity to show they stood together for the good of the town.

Bishop Goddard said: "If war does occur there will be tensions in our local community, brother will be against brother and sister against sister. We must not allow people to do that to us.

"We must not allow people to divide the good things happening now in Burnley. In the words of Building Bridges 'we must stand shoulder to shoulder in trusting and supporting one another'.

"We pray for the United Nations, for George Bush and the American authorities, for Tony Blair and the government and all who have the influence for peace and justice in our world."

The Imam said: "We have come here today to tell Tony Blair that there is no justification for war and to pray for a peaceful solution to this. If we are not able to physically stop what inevitably is going to happen, I hope we can at least feel content in our hearts that we tried to do something and came out on a cold Saturday afternoon for a peace vigil."

Bishop Goddard continued: "We stand here with the peace garden behind us and the war memorial in front of us. I think it is very poignant that we met here to pray for peace."

Councillor Mozaquir Ali, who also attended the vigil said he was pleased at the turnout.

He said: "If the war, which appears inevitable, goes ahead we pray that it has no effect on the communities of Burnley and that we the faith communities will, whatever may come, stand shoulder to shoulder to prevent any tensions between us."