RACIAL equality campaigners plan to stage a demonstration tonight to protest at plans to dissolve Hyndburn and Rossendale Racial Equality Council.

Objectors will gather outside the council's Accrington office in Oak Street at 6pm as a meeting to discuss the organisation's future takes place.

Campaigners believe that the amalgamation of local racial equality councils to make one main body covering the whole of East Lancashire will alienate ethnic minorities and increase segregation.

Mazhar Hussein, founder chairman of Hyndburn and Rossendale Racial Equality Council, said: "People feel one main body will not be in touch with the communities on a day-to-day level.

"The Burnley and Pendle office has already been closed, if Hyndburn and Rossendale goes too it will have a poor effect on race relations."

Nobody from the Hyndburn and Rossendale Racial Equality Council was available for comment this morning.

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