A NEW community group to promote cultural, sports and arts facilities in the Daneshouse and Stoneyholme areas of Burnley was being launched today.

Various dignitaries, civic and community leaders, the police, Burnley Council officials and the director of Mid Pennine Arts will attend the official launch of Burnley Community Asian Foundation Limited (BCAFL) at Daneshouse Youth and Community Centre.

After talks there will be refreshments and music from Raja Abid and Party, a TV and radio Pathwari music group from Pakistan.

Stage secretary Coun Arif Khan said: "The aim of the BACFL is to promote cultural, sports and arts activities in the area.

"It is a community organisation with people from the grass roots who have got together to form a community group and people from all political backgrounds are involved.

"We thought we may have 200 people initially but now we are expecting 300 to 500."

He said because of the recent troubles the launch of the foundation was delayed.