WOMEN from every faith can lead the way in the fight to unite the communities of East Lancashire.

But women of different cultures should make an effort to learn English.

That was the message from religious and community leaders in Blackburn who gathered at Blackburn Cathedral to take part in a debate entitled "Women and Faith." The event was designed as a prelude to a series of women-only conferences set to take place in Blackburn under the banner "Women and Interfaith."

It was organised by Val Edge, women's project officer for the Blackburn with Darwen Interfaith Council, and Anjum Anwar, who also acts as women's project officer and works within the Lancashire Council of Mosques.

The debate was designed to look at the roles women and faith play in the local communities, and comes just days after Blackburn MP Jack Straw called for a debate about whether Asian women should be required to speak English before they are handed a visa.

During the event, attended by about 25 people, Mrs Anwar, a Pakistan-born Muslim who moved to the UK aged ten, and Mrs Edge, a campaigner who was brought up Christian in a Welsh mining village, spoke of their different religious upbringings.

The pair, who have lived in Blackburn for much of their adult lives, looked at issues including the roles women play in helping children form religious values, and whether mothers should work or play a more traditional role.

The speakers, with chair Canon Chris Chivers, who has responsibility within the Blackburn Diocese for interfaith issues, are hoping to show that women in East Lancashire can play an important role in uniting the faiths in the town.

And Mrs Anwar said she agreed with Jack Straw that it would help if women in the local community could speak English.

She said: "English is our language, you have to learn, I don't have a problem with that. It's the availability I have questioned.

"If you have a mother who doesn't speak English she is still transmitting her values. That's good enough for me.

"But it's an added benefit, a very important benefit, that she speaks English."

During the event a number of questions were raised by the audience, sparking debate, including whether marriage was still a sacred vow, how Muslim and Christian religions viewed polygamy, or multiple marriage, and how the institution of marriage could remain sacred if a husband or wife is unfaithful.

Questioners also asked what men and women could do to help Muslims and other faiths integrate into society more effectively.

And the event heard how women could play a large part in developing their children's views by instilling them with a good set of values, whether Muslim, Christian, or any other religion.

The women- only conferences will take place today at St Silas' Parish Hall, and on Tuesday, March 18 at Audley Community Centre, both from 6-8.30pm.