A ROW has broken out over claims Islamophobia is on the rise in a town.

Burnley councillor Neil Mottershead has hit out at Labour councillor Shah Hussain, who claimed there have been an increasing number of incidents of Islamophobia on the streets of Burnley.

Cllr Hussain's comments came after the former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, in a recent newspaper article, remarked that women wearing face-covering veils to bank robbers.

Cllr Mottershead described the comments made by Cllr Hussain about the town, which were reported on in a recent article in the Lancashire Telegraph, as 'appalling' and said he should not 'talk Burnley down'.

The Burnley and Padiham Independent councillor said: "I have spoken with a local police inspector and the anti-social behaviour team on Burnley Council and they have come back to me and said there has been no increase in reports of crime in the town.

"They are telling me it's not true and if he is saying it is true, and if it's not, then it's appalling.

"It's really bad to be talking our town down and saying things like this when Burnley is a good town."

Police have also said there has been no evidence of any increase in Islamophobia in Burnley.

Burnley Council has also said they haven't been notified of a rise in religious hate crime but have advised anyone to contact them in relation to complaints or concerns about the issue.

Cllr Hussain has responded to the criticism and said he was simply raising awareness about an issue that he was made aware of by his constituents.

He said: "I did not talk our town down. I was only saying what my constituents were telling me.

"By raising issue with Islamophobia you do not bring the town down.

"You are raising something that concerns of some people who live in the area.

"If that's letting the town down then I'm sorry, but it's not. It's simply highlighting what's happening."

Several people responded to Cllr Hussain's comments on the Lancashire Telegraph website. Some online users agreed that there was a stigma towards Muslims in the area while others dismissed that it existed.

One user from Blackburn said: "Nobody is born religious. Teach your child right from wrong and if they grow up and choose a religion themselves then great."

Another said: "The councillor is absolutely correct. However, it's not on the rise - It's always been."