RACIAL equality bosses in Bury have slapped shock lifetime bans on a former chairman and vice chairman.

Liaqat Ali and Mohammed Muneer have each been told they face a permanent membership exclusion from Bury Racial Equality Council (BREC).

The ban was imposed by the council's membership panel which considered their "past and present behaviour" in respect of their alleged attempts "to harm the BREC."

Earlier, the race relations body had amended its constitution so it could "permanently exclude from membership any organisation or individual who persistently and repeatedly brings the BREC into disrepute."

However the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), which along with Bury Council funds the race relations body, has asked the organisation to review its unprecedented decision. Mr Ali was chairman of the racial equality council for more than 10 years before resigning in 1992 on the eve of a censure motion.

Mr Muneer served with the organisation for 12 years before quitting as vice chairman in 1997 after an internal row.

Both men, who are not current members of the BREC, have been constant and vociferous critics of the organisation and have been highly critical of the way it is being run.

They were among demonstrators who took part in an angry anti-BREC protest outside Bury Town Hall in June during the organisation's annual general meeting.

Mr Ali, who lives in Whitefield, attacked the ban and claimed: "BREC is going to be a closed shop from now on. I'm very concerned about what has happened.

"How can they withdraw my membership when I haven't actually been a member for the past eight years?"

He added: "I telephoned the CRE in Manchester and expressed my anger and dissatisfaction at what has happened and asked them to look into it.

"To permanently exclude people does the racial equality council no good whatsoever."

Commenting on his ban Mr Muneer, who lives in Eton Hill Road, Radcliffe, said: "I feel sad and very hurt.

"I am a man of honour and I want that organisation to run perfectly. I'm not against the BREC in principle but the people who are running it."

BREC honorary secretary Mr Sam Cohen said the change to the constitution, paving the way for the exclusions, had apparently been approved by the CRE.

But on Wednesday, the Manchester-based Commission advised a review of the new policy which could go to BREC's next executive meeting.

Explaining the reasons behind the bans, Mr Cohen said: "We've taken this decision because certain people have been trying to engineer the demise of the racial equality council.

"Why should people who are trying to cause the end of BREC even want to be considered for membership?"

Mr Cohen claimed highly critical letters about the race relations body had been sent in the past to the Commission and Bury Council.

"These were signed by certain people who, when asked, said they knew nothing about them.

"There has been an organised campaign by around four or five people. At the end of the day, we don't see why we should put up with somebody who wants to get rid of the racial equality council."