BURNLEY and Pendle's only race harmony group is to disband after Racial Equality Council leaders admitted defeat in their long battle for funding.

The last straw for the beleaguered group was the recent decision by new Labour and Conservative bosses to pull the plug on £27,000-a-year cash backing for the Nelson-based organisation.

The REC had battled on for three years after Lancashire County and Burnley councils and the Commission for Racial Equality withdrew their funding following years of internal strife in the group.

But Pendle's decision meant the organisation simply could not continue, said President Dr Qasi Jehangir following an extraordinary general meeting of the REC in Nelson town hall last night.

He called the Pendle decision a "travesty of justice" made by people who did not understand the vital work carried out be the local REC.

The REC has operated for 25 years but another special meeting to ratify last night's decision will be held within 21 days and then all activities will cease.

"It is a very sad and disappointing day," said Dr Jehangir who added that supporters had raised £1,000 this week to try to keep the organisation alive.

"Sadly, It just isn't enough," he added.

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