THE next meeting of the Burnley Task Force will be in the Duke Bar area where the summer disturbances began.

The troubles are believed by many to have been sparked by an attack on an off duty taxi driver in Colne Road at Duke Bar.

The Duke of York public house in the centre of the area was gutted by fire and many local shops, offices and businesses suffered widespread damage.

Cars in the area were also torched.

The Task Force, led by independent chairman Lord Tony Clarke, was set up to investigate the causes of the disturbances which spread to Daneshouse and Burnley Wood.

Its role is also to suggest ways forward.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 10 at St John's RC Church hall, Ivy Street.

The first hour will be an open session when members of the public can attend and give their views and suggestions to the 15-strong Task Force.

Interpreters will be available in Urdu, Bengali, Pushto and British sign language, as they are at all Task Force meetings.

Posters and leaflets urging people to attend and pass on their views have been distributed recently right across the town.

A Task Force website, www.burnleytaskforce.org.uk was also recently launched by pupils from Towneley High School.

It includes a questionnaire specifically aimed at gathering the views of young people.

A questionnaire is also to be distributed to all houses in the borough in the next couple of weeks.

The results of that will be analysed by an independent group. The public consultation is due to be completed by the end of October with the findings of the Task Force hopefully available by the middle or end of November.

Another meeting of the Task Force will be held on Wednesday, October 24 at Burnley Wood One Stop Shop, Springfield Road, with a public session from 5.30-6.30pm.

People can contact the Task Force by writing to Lord Clarke, Burnley Task Force, Burnley Town Hall, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JA or be e-mail at taskforce@burnley.gov.uk