RESIDENTS are heralding the New Year with a joint Eid and Christmas celebration, to promote friendship between diverse communities in 2002.

The Audley and Queen's Park Community Association host the free lunch for 500 people tomorrow and has invited everyone in the area on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Organisers stress that the event, at the Audley Community Centre, Higher Audley Street, Blackburn, is not political, as it has run annually since 1997. But, given the events of September 11, they said the lunch will be a timely reminder of peace and friendship.

This message follows with the findings of the Task Force report into the three-day disturbances in Burnley last June.

It said there was an urgent need to deal with the polarisation of communities to prevent further trouble and suggested white and Asian communities mix more to overcome an ignorance of each others' lives and beliefs.

Yaqoob Hussain, chair person of the Audley and Queens Park Hospital Community Association, said: "Four years ago, we decided we would try to get the public to use the community centre more and it has carried on ever since. We decided as a gesture of good will to get all the communities together -- everyone is included and we don't put labels on people -- this community centre is for everyone who lives in the area.

"With what has happened in the recent past it's right we should get together and send a message of friendship across all the communities. This is not a political event, it has been happening for four years, but serves as a timely reminder.

"Many people don't ever see their neighbours. We need some integration from both sides, which will help a great deal. We hope people will come and see each other for some time. We think this is a good time to have it because Eid was almost two weeks ago and Christmas was just this week, so it is a joint celebration for the New Year."

Chefs plan to cook a chicken curry with chappaties and a mixture of sandwiches to suit all tastes, which will be served from midday until 4pm.

The lunch is funded by a portion of the profits from the Community Centre during the past year.

Coun Bill Taylor, the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, will be present, along with each of the councillors for Queens Park and Audley wards.

Anybody interested who lives in the Audley and Queens Park area is welcome to attend.