PRESTON'S Hindu and Muslim community are pulling together and working toward a united front despite nuclear powers India and Pakistan being locked in conflict.

Representatives from Preston's religious institutions held a meeting on Tuesday aimed at setting up a Faith Forum to bring Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and other religious groups together.

Indian-born Yousuf Motala, principal regeneration officer at Preston City Council, has played a part in interfaith discussions as chairman of Forward North West -- a group which represents black and ethnic minorities across the region.

Mr Motala said: "We need to tackle these problems, there is enough discrimination out there so by joining together we can have a collective voice.

"We are looking to work closely with the Muslim and Hindu communities to tackle problems such as domestic violence, street crime and child abuse.

"A lot of Preston people are concerned at the moment because of the tension between India and Pakistan, many have relatives in Gujarat and Karachi, like myself, a lot of the time it is harmonious, but the recent extremism and politics has unnerved many people."

Mr Motala, 40, was born in Gujarat, India, and moved to Karachi in Pakistan with his parents in the 1950s when trouble broke out between the two neighbouring countries.

He spent a little time in Karachi, where his brothers and sisters were born, before moving to Preston in his pre-school years. He is now married to Karachi-born Fatima and the couple have three children.

"I speak Urdu and Gujarat and I'm a Muslim but I get along well with everyone," said Mr Motala. "Preston is a great place to live and I've spent most of my life here."

Mr Motala is friends with Ishwer Tailor, president of the Gujarat Hindu Society. Mr Tailor said: "There is a necessity for a local interfaith forum, we want to create a dynamic programme which will include all faiths, to work as a local strategic partnership and make a difference."