DEVOUT Muslims beat their bare chests blood red in a visual outpouring of grief at the massacre 1400 years ago of their prophet and his family.

Organisers of the annual march through Daneshouse, Burnley, said it had attracted between 350 to 400 people aged from four to more than 70.

Many of the more devout members could be seen bare chested in the centre of the marchers with large healed wounds on their backs from self flagellation. Leaflets were handed out to onlookers to explain the reason for the march, the chanting and the symbolism.

Press officer for the Hussainia Central Mosque and Imambargah on Grey Street Syed Iftekhar said: "This is an expression of our grief at the death of Mohammed's family."

The march lasted about two hours. People travelled from Manchester, Bradford, London and Rochdale to attend.

The Al-Islam organisation also issued leaflets to onlookers condemning the terrorist attacks on September 11.