MASJIDS and Islamic Education Centres are to be targeted by social workers in the first project of its type in the country.

Very few children on Blackburn with Darwen's child protection register -- a list of youngsters feared to be at risk of emotional, sexual or physical abuse -- are from Asian families.

Blackburn with Darwen Council hopes the scheme will lead to a better awareness of child abuse within members of the local community.

The council's social services department has teamed up with the Lancashire Council of Mosques, Blackburn Council of Mosques, Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire County Council and the NSPCC to promote the scheme.

Each of the borough's Islamic teaching centres will now have a person responsible for promoting agreed child protection procedures.

Information will also be displayed showing types of abuses, roles of agencies in preventing abuse, responsibilities of the community, and where people should go with concerns.

Training is currently taking place in the community, with a conference to showcase the unique initiative also being planned. Once potential cases are brought to the council's attention, efforts can be made to support families and take action to protect the child.

Councillor Sue Reid, executive member for social services, said: "Benefits include raising awareness of child protection issues and forming good partnership.

"The procedures were developed in close partnership with Blackburn's Asian heritage community.

Interest in the work has already been expressed by social services departments in other parts of the country.

Coun Reid added, "The procedures are unique in the north and probably the rest of the country.

"This innovation has developed through a strong partnership and within an atmosphere of mutual trust. There was a gap and the fact this has been recognised is a credit to Blackburn's community."

Doctor Mahmood Chandia, director of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said, "New procedures will strengthen protection of children and offer new opportunities for shared learning."