THE director of a racial equality council today claimed the group had finally solved their problems and ended months of internal squabbles.

Director Abdul Chowdry said members of Blackburn with Darwen Racial Equality Council had voted for a new constitution and board of directors.

The vote follows threats by council chiefs and the Commission for Racial Equality to withdraw its funding and a meeting in October where the majority of its members stormed out.

This, in turn, follows allegations of misconduct, the suspension of officers and the resignations of the former chairman Dr Salim Najia and deputy Janaid Qureshi for "personal reasons".

The REC is now sending letters to Blackburn with Darwen Council and the CRE to inform them of its progress and is due to meet with the CRE to discuss the matters this week.

Coun Colin Rigby, of Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive board had previously worked with the REC.

He said: "It's absolutely brilliant, the area needs a REC. Perhaps now they can concentrate on helping all the communities in the area. The council can now look at the issue of funding for the REC."

Mr Chowdry said he was similarly pleased with the result.

"It is a big turn around," he said. "The troubles are behind us now. This has been a difficult three months, but thanks to the huge turnout of more than 50 per cent, we now have a new constitution, a new committee and new arrangements.

"We have 11 board members four of whom are from Pakistani heritage, three of Indian and four of European descent.

"The REC is now more representative of all the people in the area and we are here to serve all the communities equally."

But Coun Mohammed Hussain, who walked out of the October meeting and previously resigned from the executive committee said: "They have formed a closed shop. Mr Chowdry has chosen a few people who will do what he says and told them what to do."

A spokesman for the CRE said: "We are due to meet the Blackburn branch of the REC at the beginning of this week.

"We will check if they have met some of the concerns we raised previously."