RESIDENTS across East Lancashire are being warned to expect a leaflet containing the controversial cartoon of the prophet Muhammad to be delivered to their homes.

Lancashire police's hate crime unit has launched an investigation after residents in Colne received the BNP leaflet over the past few days.

The Lancashire Council of Mosques has already branded the BNP "disgusting" for sending out the cartoon which no British newspaper had published and appealed for calm.

But Phil Edwards, press officer for the BNP, said that despite the criticism and police investigation, more of the leaflets would be posted across East Lancashire in areas where the far-right party was standing in the May local elections.

The cartoon is printed next to a photo of a protest in London in which someone is holding a placard urging violence against anyone who insulted Islam. The leaflet asks people which of the two they find offensive.

Mr Edwards said: "Our leaflet is to get to the nub of the argument about whether Islam is compatible with western values.

"We are trying to start a debate on this and it may be that we are wrong.

"If that is the case then after we have had a debate, I will quit.

"If there is violence because of the leaflet then it proves our point."

However Pendle MP Gordon Prentice said: "We all know why the BNP are doing this. It is to do with their attitudes towards non-white people.

"Publishing the cartoons is not illegal. However it is distasteful and insulting to Muslims."

Pendle peer Lord Tony Greaves added: "There isn't a large Muslim community in Colne but I imagine they feel very vulnerable if they see this."

The cartoon depicting the prophet Muhammad with a bomb in his turban has outraged Muslims across the world and sparked intense protests since it was published in a Danish newspaper last year.

A fortnight ago 600 local people staged a peaceful demonstration outside Blackburn town hall.