A PLANNED march and carnival by the Burnley and Pendle Anti Nazi League may be banned.

Police fear a mass demonstration would attract counter activity with a very high risk of sparking fresh trouble.

The Chief Constable of Lancashire Pauline Clare has asked Burnley Council to apply to the Home Office for a Prohibition Order to ban assemblies in Burnley on September 1, the proposed date of the march and carnival.

Local councillor and Anti-Nazi league member Andrew Holder said: "There is no need for it to be cancelled.

"The whole idea of the demonstration and carnival was to bring the whole community together and to get rid of the terrible disbeliefs which the British National Party are trying to circulate."

Coun Holder who sits on Burnley Council as a member of Lancashire Socialist Alliance, said: "The whole idea of the event is to try to unite the community not to go down into town to beat in a few Fascists heads."

If granted, the order would follow the existing three month ban on marches and assemblies imposed during the recent racially motivated outbreaks of violence in the Duke Bar, Daneshouse and Burnley Wood areas of the town.

In a joint statement the police and council say the request for a new order is in response to the Anti-Nazi League plans for a mass demonstration.

The league had already announced plans to march through the town centre and to hold a carnival in Towneley Park.

The order will also apply to any counter demonstration organised by any other extremist group.

The statement says both the police and council agreed that to allow such an event to take place in Burnley at the current time might be the catalyst for further unrest and disorder.

It was not the intention to stifle democratic debate but so soon after the recent troubles, community safety had to be the priority. Chief Supt John Knowles, commander of Pennine police division, said: "A mass demonstration by 2-3000 people in Burnley would attract counter activity and the risk of trouble is very high.

"I think most people would agree with me in saying that the town of Burnley and its people don't need this at this particular time."

Council leader Stuart Caddy commented: "A mass demonstration at this time might put at risk the good work that has been started."

Coun Caddy added: "Contrary to some of the publicity by the organisers I do not support events of this nature at this sensitive time."