A GOVERNMENT minister has confirmed that the dispersal of asylum seekers to Blackburn, Burnley and Nelson has been suspended.

The statement came after a question from Pendle Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Greaves.

He asked the government which cluster areas for the dispersal of asylum seekers had seen the suspension of any new dispersals of refugees. Government spokesman Lord Filkin said that the dispersal of any asylum seekers to the whole cluster for Burnley and Nelson had been suspended at the request of the police.

Lord Filkin also said the dispersal to the whole Blackburn cluster area had been suspended at the request of the regional consortium of local authorities.