DRUGS, housing, race and policing were the main talking points of the latest meeting of the Burnley Task Force.

The meeting of the independent body set up to examine the causes of this summer's disturbances, was held in one of the areas worst affected.

In June homes, businesses, shops and cars were attacked just yards away from St John's RC Church, Ivy Street were the meeting was held.

Lord Clarke, chairman of the Task Force began by thanking those packed into the church hall for attending.

Father Michael Waters, the priest of St John's, thanked the police and praised their actions during the disturbances.

He went on to say that the event had, "caused a positive relationship between the churches and the mosques of Burnley to blossom."

Several members of the audience echoed the feelings of people at other meetings and assured Lord Clarke that drugs played a pivotal role in the troubles of June 24, 25, 26.

After the meeting, in response to questions about the role drugs played in the disturbances, Chief Super Intendent Tony Knowles said: "The police, along with other agencies are producing a written submission to the Task Force.

"It touches on a number of issues that we think are linked to the disturbances, but I can't pre-empt it or discuss it before it has been seen by Lord Clarke."

On the matter of policing, one member of the audience thought that Shahid Malik's decision to sue the police could only make things worse.

Shahid, 33, a member of the Commission for Racial Equality and son of Burnley's deputy mayor, Coun Rafique Malik, suffered a facial injury and was arrested while trying to calm disturbances in the town on June 25. The Crown Prosecution Service has now advised Lancashire Constabulary that it would be inappropriate to institute proceedings against Mr Malik.

"If he has any decency or diplomacy he should accept the hand of friendship, and like the police take the matter no further. This action can only exacerbate and make a bad situation worse."

That contribution drew a spontaneous round of applause and in response Lord Clarke said that "Those expectation and hopes will probably be fulfilled."

The Task Force is due to complete its inquiry into the cause of the disturbances by the end of November. The report will be available for members of the public to see and it will contain recommendations to the relevant authorities that the Task Force believes can make the changes necessary.