THIS weekend marks the first anniversary of three days of disturbances that put Burnley in the minds of the nation as a centre of racial violence.

A task force under Lord Tony Clarke began work on August 1 to investigate what happened, why it happened and what should be done to try to ensure it never happens again.

In December the task force's report was published and it emphasised the need for people in the town to talk to and find out more about each other's lives.

It also highlighted the need for physical improvements especially to ageing and decrepit housing and the large amounts of money that had to be found to make a real difference to some of the poorest, most deprived areas of Britain.

A year on, a lot of words have been written and said and some new initiatives have been launched with the aim of bringing people together.

Lord Clarke says that churches and mosques "seem to be working very closely together" although surely religious leaders are the very first people one would expect to be engaging in dialogue without the need for riots as a catalyst.

Changes have been heralded in the school system which could lead to greater integration, although their implementation is still some way off.

We have heard words, too, about housing improvements but, as Lord Clarke points out, we still have to see from the comprehensive spending review how much cash the government is going to provide for sorely needed regeneration.

The last 12 months have also seen negatives like the election of three British National Party councillors in Burnley - something which put the borough back in the national news as a place where people have problems living together in harmony.

But local politicians feel that while there have been no miraculous changes, bridges are being built and some foundations have been laid for a peaceful future where neighbours can be friends regardless of racial origins. There is no other way forward.