THE producers of a controversial documentary claiming segregation in Blackburn has increased have been urged to return to ‘tell the full story’.

Senior Anglican clergy said the BBC Panorama programme ‘White Fright’ did not paint an accurate picture of Blackburn and they, along with other faith communities, were not approached.

It returned after first coming to the town in 2007, when it highlighted the divide between Muslim Asian and white residents.

Community leaders were angry with how the documentary had portrayed Blackburn, saying it had ‘tarnished’ its image and did not look at the current situation.

The Bishop of Blackburn, Rt Rev Julian Henderson, said there are a number of different initiatives taking place in Blackburn to help bring communities together.

He said: “There are challenges of course, but Blackburn is not unique in that regard and we are involved in many initiatives where people from different backgrounds live, work, play and associate together.

“We engage together on topics of mutual interest at our active Anglican/Muslim forum, the Prevent agenda, specifically mentioned in the Panorama programme on Monday, was discussed at length at our most recent gathering.

“The diocese and cathedral didn’t get the chance to take part in this documentary, so I urge the Panorama team to visit Blackburn again soon and tell the full story of what is happening here.

“We will be happy to speak to them.”

The documentary’s conclusion was backed by Professor Ted Cantle who led a government enquiry into race riots in Burnley, Oldham and Bradford in 2001 and, in 2009, investigated the situation in Blackburn finding ‘one of the most ethnically-divided towns in the country’.

Rt Rev. Philip North, the Bishop of Burnley, in speaking up for Blackburn, said the programme contained a number of grave misunderstandings, one of the most serious of which involved ‘faith schools’.

Dean of Blackburn, the Very Rev. Peter Howell-Jones, added: “The cathedral took part in the first Panorama documentary in 2007 and would have been delighted to do so again.

“I joined the team here less than a year ago and my wife and I now live in the centre of the town in clergy court.

“Engagement with our Muslim neighbours in the town is straightforward and the cathedral itself is at the centre of driving forward community cohesion work, with initiatives such as our cathedral/mosque programme which brings together young people from our schools to create better understanding of our faiths."