PEOPLE across Blackburn with Darwen are being urged to carry out a random act of kindness as the borough becomes the first ‘Kindness Community’.

World champion motorbike racer and King of the Jungle Carl ‘Foggy’ Fogarty launched the initiative which is the brainchild of kindness campaigner John Magee.

Mr Magee, from Blackburn, has written a book ‘Kindness Matters’ which urges people to commit to 30 days carrying out a random act of kindness.

His RAOK movement has more than 100,000 followers on social media and the backing of Blackburn with Darwen Council and businesses including Training 2000, Euro Garages, Blackburn College, WEC group and Northcote, who have all signed up to the 30 day challenge.

Mr Magee, who is the co-founder of STREETS UK and visits schools talking about his journey from being involved in organised crime to working in the community, said: “I was honoured to have Carl take the 30 day challenge.

“The book helped him become more aware and he’s setting a great example.

“Hopefully more towns will want to get involved.

“We want to show the world that Blackburn with Darwen deserves the title of a kind community.

“We are all coming together to show the world that kindness matters.”

Foggy, who is from Blackburn, said that the world needs more kindness.

He said: “It’s easy to be kind, it can be something as simple as smiling at someone or letting someone through in traffic.

“And it feels great when someone acknowledges your actions.

“I won’t be stopping at 30 days, I’m going to carry it on, I’ve got to the point where I’m doing it and I’m not even aware anymore.

“If I can put my name behind it could become something big, and it will be something that Blackburn started.”

Cllr Mohammed Khan said: “We will all benefit from seeing more acts of kindness in our communities. We are already known for our warmth and generosity in this part of the world.

“Also its fits with the council’s Your Call ethos which is about encouraging and celebrating people giving something back to their community. We are hoping even more people will come forward to play a part in making Blackburn and Darwen great places.

“There’s no denying we live in troubled times but whatever your politics, race or religion, there is nothing stopping us all from showing kindness to each other.

“John’s movement is a return to good old fashioned community values when everyone looked out for each other.

“I took the Kindness Challenge and realised how good it feels to put a smile on the face of strangers, family and friends through random acts of kindness.”