ONE of the area's leading Methodist ministers has issued an apology over an obscure religious group who are holding a festival in his church.

The Rev Keith Richardson was forced to distance the church from the Hare-Krishna-style 'gouranga' festival on Sunday (July 21) after the group of wandering monks put up fly-posters and accosted people in the street.

"A room was let solely on the basis that it was for an exhibition of Indian music and dance," said Mr Richardson, who is superintendent of the local Methodist circuit.

"The event is in no way associated with the Methodist church, or endorsed by it. We apologise to the residents of Burnley for the fly-posting which has caused offence. Although the name of the church is very prominent on this publicity, it has been done without our agreement."

The festival, at Burnley's Central Methodist Church, will go ahead, because the organisers have already paid for the room. But notices will be pinned to doors to inform people of the church's position.

Mr Richardson added: "We have had a number of complaints, both about the nature of the event and the behaviour of some of the members. One woman felt she was being hassled in the street.

"I dealt with one man who said he was a monk based in Huddersfield, and I have communicated with him only by letter. He told me the event was a way of sharing Indian culture."

Fly-posting is outlawed and over the past few years Burnley council has come down hard on perpetrators. The council is believed to be considering legal action in the gouranga festival case.

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