BURNLEY Football Club will play host to more than 100 delegates from across the country next weekend at a community conference in response to the disturbances in the town last summer.

It has been organised by the Burnley Community Network, which consists of members of the Community Alliance, Voluntary Action in the Community and other local and voluntary groups.

The event responds to the call made in the Task Force Report for community and voluntary groups to come together to explore ways of working for the benefit of the whole community.

The conference has been funded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit's community empowerment fund.

Guest speakers will include Ian Horton, from the community cohesion unit of the government office North West: Rushanara Ali, from the community cohesion unit at the Home Office; and Tricia Zipfell, of the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit in London.

They will emphasise the importance of national projects on community cohesion and neighbourhood renewal and how these translate at a local level.

Brenda Rochester, chairman of the Burnley Community Network, will open the conference on Saturday at 9.15am, in the Hargreaves Stand at Turf Moor.

She said: "Everyone has a multitude of skills and abilities but sometimes these skills are not identified and used.

"These skills can be brought out for the benefit of the whole community. Without one another we can not exist."

Local residents will be able to find out how new community projects will affect them and how they can be involved with the Burnley Community Network.

Burnley MP Peter Pike will join the conference for the final session when delegates, local agencies and representatives from Burnley Borough Council will be looking at a way forward for their communities.

People will be able to take the opportunity to voice their opinions, to find out how to get resources to help their organisation play a part in the community and to exchange ideas.

There will also be training workshops and display stands from more than 25 organisations.