THE FACT that Blackburn and Darwen have the highest rate of reported cases of racial harassment in the country ought to be a matter for shame and concern.

But one of the reasons for this is that, for the past two years, victims of these disgraceful attacks have had an agency to which they can report the incidents.

And considering that they have amounted to hundreds and ranged from street attacks to petrol bombings and vandalism, the need for just such a body is manifest.

The problem is no longer being swept under a carpet of resentful silence.

Even so, the hugely-successful racial harassment project set up by Blackburn's Racial Equality Council believes it is only scratching the surface of the problem - when it is only through cases being reported that action can be taken to address the situation. And, significantly, this does not just entail the racial harassment of Asians.

For the project is also concerned about white people who have been harassed by gangs of Asian youths.

Yet, having achieved so much, this pioneering scheme now stands in danger of being run down because its funding expires next March.

It would be a shameful waste for all its good work to be thrown away - especially when it is evident that there is still much to be done to expose and tackle the extent of racial harassment in the community and, so, defeat the misery and bitterness it brings.

It is vital that this important project is allowed to complete its task - and that funding be found to keep it going.

Blackburn with Darwen Council and the National Lottery must listen carefully to its pleas for cash.

For the cause is to make our community, at present having the country's worst rate of racial harassment, the one with the least.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.