AN EAST Lancashire college has banned visitors from wearing veils.

Burnley College, which takes pupils from Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, has placed a printed notice in reception advising anyone coming onto the site to remove items of clothing which cover their face.

As well as banning the Muslim full veil, the move, introduced for security reasons, also prevents anything which covers a person's face, such as helmets.

It is the only college in the area to bring in the move with Blackburn College, St. Mary's College and Accrington and Rossendale College having no such ban.

Community leaders have criticised the policy and said visitors, students and staff should have the ‘freedom to wear what they want.’ And it has been revealed the University of Central Lancashire, which operates from the same building in Princess Way, permits veils.

Council bosses have declined to comment in detail on the move, but the notice from the principal Hugh Bramwell said visitors must not have their face covered for security reasons.

Daneshouse with Stoneyholme ward councillor Wajid Khan, who also works is a course leader in Community Leadership at the University of Central Lancashire, said people should wear what they want.

He said: “Here at the University of Central Lancashire we don’t have that policy. Everybody should be entitled to their individual freedom.

“Personally I don’t agree with the policy in the college.

“It could affect parents coming to parents evening but the college should let parents know of the policies and students should make sure they know the policies before they join.

“Any student in the University of Central Lancashire area can chose what they wear. But university students who wear the veil and walk through the college area must identify themselves to the security guards. There are only male security guards on the premises."

Former Lancashire Council of Mosques chair Abdul Hamid Qureshi, who is still heavily involved with community cohesion work in Burnley, said the policy was ‘a little excessive'.

He said: “There are human rights issues, people have the right to wear what they want.

"Burnley College has one policy and the university has another. I think it is a little excessive. There should be a compromise.

"If security is an issue the person coming in the burka should show their face to the security guard.”

Blackburn MP Jack Straw hit the headlines in late 2006 after making controversial comments about whether women should wear the veil in 2006.

Mr Straw, who is also on the governing body at Blackburn College, said: “Institutions have to make their own judgements, but at Blackburn College we take a different view.

“Security can be checked in other ways. But I think they are barriers of communication.”

Burnley College had previously sparked controversy when a prospective student was asked to remove her veil for an interview.

A spokeswoman from the college said: “The policy on our reception desk is a college policy which is displayed internally to staff, students and visitors. This policy is an internal document which is not designed to be used externally.”

She declined to comment any further.