A PIONEERING scheme set up to combat racist attacks in Blackburn and Darwen is running out of cash.

Blackburn's Racial Equality Council is bidding for extra money to fund its hugely successful racial harassment project.

Since the project started two years ago the number of reported racist attacks in Blackburn and Darwen has soared because of increased awareness.

But funding for the scheme is set to run out next March and the organisers are desperate to keep the momentum going.

There are already plans to put a bid together for cash to keep the project running for an extra year.

The REC is considering asking Blackburn with Darwen Council for backing and is also bidding for National Lottery funding.

The area has the highest rate of reported racial harassment cases in the country and organisers are predicting the figures are likely to rise even further.

Blackburn's REC has dealt with more than 380 cases in the last two years and incidents have ranged from street attacks to petrol bombings and vandalism. Racial harassment officer Solat Chaudry said: "We want as many people to come forward as possible so we can tackle the problem.

"If cases are reported then we can do something about the situation. Only by working together with other agencies will the problem be solved.

"At the moment we are only scratching the surface. There are hundreds of cases out there we know nothing about."

"This is not just about racial harassment of Asians. We want to unite people.

"We are also talking about white people who have been harassed by gangs of Asian youths. This is a problem which affects everybody."

Blackburn REC chairman Mohammed Khan added: "We set out to ensure that the number of incidents reported more accurately reflected the number of incidents occurring.

"The results speak for themselves. The number of incidents reported to this REC have risen dramatically which clearly demonstrates an increase in public confidence.

"Much has been achieved, but now we must ensure that we progress down the path of the 'righteous' cause with the full support of the local authority and other local agencies."

The racial harassment project has drawn praise from all quarters including the police and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The organisation has also won the backing of the Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw.

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