PEOPLE are being urged not to resort to any kind of racist ‘revenge’ attacks after a man was fatally attacked in a park.

Christopher Folkes, 36, died after he was attacked in Queen’s Park, Blackburn, and police said that they do not believe the attack was racially motivated.

But his mother Christina Baxter said she fears people in Shadsworth, where her son lived, are intent on taking the law into their own hands.

And a councillor joined her in urging people to remain calm as police said they were working in the community to avert any ‘revenge’ attacks.

Mrs Baxter, who also lives in Shadsworth, said: “People are convinced that the attack was racist and I hear all of the time that people around here want revenge.

“People are saying that they are going to start fights or attack Asians because of what happened to Christopher.

“That is the last thing I want to happen. I do not want any other family to have to go through what me and my family had suffered this week.

“Violence is not the answer and the police have said that it was not a racist incident.”

Det Supt Neil Hunter said that there have been no reports from witnesses that racism was a part of the attack.

He said: “We are not treating this as a racist incident. There were white and Asian people who were a part of the group that we believe the attacker came from.

“Officers are working in the community to reassure people.”

Police said Mr Folkes was attacked by up to three Asian men But Mrs Baxter said: “I don’t think there was racism involved. These are just horrible and nasty people who have got nothing better to do than attack a vulnerable man.

“I think it was just a random attack and I am sure that he did not know the people who attacked him.“ Coun Salim Mulla, who represents the Queen’s Park area, said it was the responsibility of community leaders like himself to urge people to shun violence.

He said: “That sort of behaviour is not acceptable in any society. All we can do is appeal to all parts of the community that they should be living in a peaceful way.

“I would appeal for all to remain calm and pray that there are no other incidents of this nature.

“We have a responsibility to get the message out condemning what has happened.”

Mr Folkes was attacked by the lake in Queen’s Park at 9.30pm on Saturday and died in hospital at around 6pm on Sunday.

His family have been unable to plan his funeral yet because his body has not been released by investigators. A second post mortem is due to take place this week.

• A 16-year-old youth from Blackburn has been remanded in custody after being charged by police with the murder of Mr Folkes.