LORD Adam Patel shot to fame nationally last year when he became Britain's first Asian peer. He has been known locally for his dedicated community work for many years -- so the fact he is giving up his annual holiday to help people struggling to survive in an earthquake hit area comes as no surprise.

DAVID HIGGERSON spoke to him about what he hopes to achieve from his visit to Gujurat...

WHEN an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale hit Gujurat in late January, many people in Blackburn feared their relatives could have died.

Many thousands of people did die, and the trail of destruction stunned everyone. For those who hail from Gujurat, the suffering was almost tangible.

Lord Adam Patel is part of a sizeable Asian community in Blackburn which has its roots in Gujurat. They watched in horror the TV pictures of mines collapsing, trains being derailed, water pipes breaking, power lines falling and homes crumbling.

Lord Patel spent several anxious hours waiting to find out whether his two brothers, who were in the heart of the affected area, had survived. Thankfully, they had, but by then he had already decided the area needed help. He said: "I was absolutely shocked when I heard the news and I was very worried about all the people I know there, especially my family. I could not get hold of my brothers because all the phones were down. They suffered minor injuries but they are all right."

He and other prominent Asians began fund-raising for survivors. Around £170,000 was raised in Lancashire in a month, of which £50,000 came from Blackburn.

Now he is returning to the area to raise awareness for the plight of his countrymen.

He said: "For them, the suffering isn't over. Whole communities have yet to get back on to their feet and they need all the support they can get.

Every little bit given to the cause will be used to help the people in Gujurat. While I am out there, I intend to visit the hospitals in the area and see what help they need.

"The people there are very grateful for our support."

Lord Patel left his village of Kamad, in Bharuch, Gujurat, in 1965, arriving in Blackburn in December 1965.

When he arrived in Blackburn, it was snowing and blowing a gale. He said: "I was used to 90F in India. It was a big shock."

He had studied at MS University of Baroda, where he first became involved in politics. In England he funded his accountancy studies by working at a Dewsbury cotton mill for six months. By the time he had gained his professional qualifications he had become joined the Labour Party.

In his 35 years in East Lancashire he has played a pivotal role in organising Muslims politically and religiously to give them a voice in the community. He was a founder member of the Blackburn Community Relations Council, now the Racial Equality Council. He was founder of Blackburn Indian Workers' Association and a member of the North West Conciliation Committee of the Race Relations Board.

His work has helped rid the town of racism and meant an end to scenes like the 1968 beatings of Asian men carried out by skinheads.

In the late 1980s he was instrumental in setting up the Lancashire Council of Mosques and visited every mosque in the county. That council was responsible for the fund-raising drive this year.

Lord Patel has also been a magistrate, honorary vice-president of the Heart of Lancashire NHS Trust, a director of the Blackburn Partnership, an executive member of Blackburn City Challenge and a director of the Lancashire Training and Enterprise Council. He is now an elder statesman of the Asian community, living at Snodsworth Hall with his wife and eight children.

He has even shaken up the House of Lords -- getting a Muslim prayer room set aside within weeks of arriving.

As a member of the Labour party he worked closely with Baroness Castle, Louise Ellman, Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton, Janet Anderson, Keith Vaz and the Bishop of Blackburn.

It is those connections which, he hopes, will help get more support for the Indian state.

He said: "I want to report back to Jack Straw about what is going on and what can be done. It is important the government helps in any way it can."

Lord Patel goes on holiday to Gujurat every year to see family and friends.

"By using my holiday this way, and going around to all the areas where people have suffered, I hope to keep it in the spotlight, " he says.