A RACE row has broken out following an attack on a soccer club in which razor blades and nails were left on a pitch to maim players.

Members of the Racial Equality Council in Nelson have set a bad example to others claimed a Labour councillor after he inspected the "booby-trapped" pitch at Nelson FC and saw anti-white slogans daubed in paint around the ground.

Although there is no direct evidence to link the two acts of vandalism, club officials suspect they are connected.

Councillor Roger Abbiss of Walverden ward said: "This terrible event happened in a town where the so-called REC leaders voted all non-Asians off their committee recently. What an example!"

Meanwhile Burnley and Pendle REC has condemned the attack, which was reported in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph on Saturday, and promised a full and thorough investigation.

A multi-agency meeting involving the police, community leaders, Asian youth organisations and others is to be held at the REC's offices in Market Square, Nelson, on Friday.

Coun Abbiss added: "Racism is evil and must be rooted out wherever it exists. Nelson Football Club is open to all and the secretary Cyril King described the young Asian members of his youth team as among the best.

"We must all learn to live together in mutual tolerance. We must be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime."

Coun Abbiss said the honour of Nelson was at stake and anyone who knew who had carried out the attack should contact the police.

He said the events were particularly tragic coming in the same week as a motion was being put forward to Pendle Council by the Labour group calling for money to be set aside to celebrate Pakistan Independence Day next year on its 50th anniversary.

Saturday's game against Ashton Town had to be cancelled after horrified club officials discovered Stanley knife blades, nails, screws and glass scattered across the pitch and set into the grass. Blades were also set at head height in the dug out.

The attack was also condemned by Aziz Chaudhry, director of the REC, who pledged it would be fully investigated.

"We're taking this matter very seriously indeed," he said. The REC does not condone acts of criminality and violence and is determined to oppose anti-social behaviour irrespective of its origin."

He said the multi-agency meeting was called in response to Home Office guidelines for RECs.

"There will be no whitewash of this incident," added Mr Chaudhry. "Our responsibility is to all sections of the community, wherever the problem comes from."

Police carried out house to house inquiries in the area around the Victoria Park ground following the incident. Anyone with any information is asked to contact them on Colne 863161.

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