HUNDREDS of Asian men gathered at the Nelson mosque following rumours that it was under threat of attack.

Police also attended in large numbers late yesterday but no trouble was reported.

Ex-Pendle Coun Mohammed Iqbal who liaised with the police said: "Nothing has happened, it was just rumours. There were some white youths in the vicinity but the police asked them to move on."

As the crowds gathered in the mosque forecourt and nearby streets at the edge of the town centre and close to Morrison's superstore a message was given by loudspeaker thanking so many people for turning out to safeguard the mosque.

A police spokesman commented: "It was a minor incident, we have not even had a complaint."

Later at night large groups of Asian groups, some of them with their faces covered, gathered in the town centre.

Police attended and there were no reports of disorder.

A planned visit to Nelson by the Kashmir peace bus which is touring the country has been called off because of the racial tension in East Lancashire.

It was had been due to visit the Place de Creil in Nelson town centre to highlight the plight of Kashmiri people in their trouble-torn country.

A spokesman for the Kashmir Working Group Pendle said the visit was off because they wanted nothing to happen which could worsen the current situation.