A LEADING community worker has won a top national award after being nominated by Lancashire Police.

Moulana Ahmed Sidat, the founder and former chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, was put forward by the force at the Leadership and Diversity Awards, which honour individuals or organisations for outstanding work in the community.

Moulana Sidat has worked closely with Lancashire Police on community relations for more than ten years, particulary in Blackburn.

He was founder of the Lancashire Council of Mosques which he chaired for seven years, is an executive member of the Blackburn Council of Mosques, was joint chair of the Muslim-Anglican group, a founder member and chairman of the Council of Islamic Affairs, chairman of the Islamic Cultural Centre and a board member of the Citizen's Advice Bureau in Blackburn.