ASYLUM seekers in East Lancashire are living in fear of violence, following attacks on refugees elsewhere in the country, it was revealed today.

The development came as the Government confirmed that Burnley was one of only three centres in the country where it had postponed its programme of sending in new asylum seekers.

The others, Bradford and Stoke, have also been centres of racial flare-ups and violence in recent weeks, but a Home Office spokesman said that was not the only factor in the decision to put the programme on hold.

Several councils have asked that no more asylum seekers are sent to them and Glasgow is worried about more violence after an Iranian was stabbed on the same housing estate where a Kurdish asylum seeker was murdered.

Burnley United Reformed Church minister The Rev Sally Thomas, appealed for a much more positive approach.

"They feel very vulnerable and threatened because of what has happened in Glasgow and we should be doing more to make them feel welcome."

She added: "We should stop looking at them as asylum seekers and see them as people, with a very great deal to offer our community."

Ms Thomas, chair of both Burnley Refugees and Asylum Seekers' Support (BRASS) and Pendle's Building Bridges support group said that, in hindsight, it was clear that much more should have been done to prepare communities for their arrival.

"We should see these people are no threat, they need our help and we should be more welcoming," she added.

A Home Office spokesman said other factors played a part in the decision to place Burnley, Bradford and Stoke on hold. "The availability of housing and such matters is also taken into consideration," he added.

A Burnley Council spokesman said local contractors handling housing of asylum seekers had been put off acquiring more properties in the area by the Home Office some weeks ago.

"Since then we have been told the Home Office has no plans for further people to come here at the moment. "

In March, the two support groups were awarded more than £30,000 to bolster their services over the next year.

The cash from the European Refugee Fund is being used to employ two full-time support workers for the area's displaced persons.