COUNCIL bosses have been urged to consult more widely on how to spend millions of pounds of Whitehall cash to promote integration.

Community activist Asif Mahmud fears that unless Blackburn with Darwen uses any grants widely, parts of the borough will effectively become South Asian-only 'No Go' areas for white residents.

But council leader Cllr Mohammed Khan said that the recent multi-cultural crowds for England's football World Cup matches shows residents from different communities coming together.

Mr Mahmud, attended Thursday's Blackburn with Darwen Council Forum to quiz borough leaders on their plans to spend its share of a £50million pilot Integrated Communities Strategy to tackle segregation launched in March by Cabinet minister Sajid Javid.

His announcement followed the BBC Panorama documentary White Fright: Divided Britain claiming Blackburn was even more divided than when it filmed in the town in 2007.

Mr Mahmud, 46,asked when the government cash will become available; which groups will receive it and and how it will be spent; and called on the council to consult widely before allocating the money.

He quoted a 2011 report by cohesion expert Professor Ted Cantle which showed that between 1991 and 2011 the percentage of white British residents living in Bastwell ward had fallen from 42.3 to 7.8, in Shear Brow ward from 46.2 to 15.1 and in Audley ward from 68.2 to 24.4.

Mr Mahmud said: "Unless we spend this money wisely and with community involvement there is a risk that some areas of Blackburn will become effectively no go areas for white residents.

"They will not go to these South Asian areas because they will have no reason to go there."

Cllr Khan said: "I disagree. I think we have a bright future for community cohesion.

"You only have to look at the crowds of South Asian and white residents who gathered together to cheer on the England team in the World Cup at the big screen outside the Town Hall.

"This showed Blackburn people, especially young people, from all communities coming together.

"We are consulting widely and have a special cohesion working group which has already met. Everyone is welcome to attend future meetings.

"We do not how much money we will get from government but we are preparing a bid to for submission in September."