Hyndburn publication slammed for offensive joke

The Hyndburn Herald, which features jokes alongside advertisements of local services, defended its decision to include a joke about immigrants dying in the back of a Tesco van, but apologised if it has caused any offence.

But one reader who contacted the Lancashire Telegraph said: “I find it really alarming that this mag is delivered to thousands of homes in areas which have had certainly had their racially derived problems in the past. I just couldn’t believe it.”

Hyndburn’s mayor Councillor Paul Barton said the joke undermined the borough’s commitment to equality.

He said: “It is terrible and amazing that it should appear in a publication which is so widely known.

“There are many people in the borough who are working hard to create community cohesion and these type of jokes just completely undermine that.

"Some people do their bit to break down barriers but others seem happy to put them up.

"Lots of people in Hyndburn will be very offended at this.”

Blackburn Cathedral’s multi faith officer, Anjum Anwar, who works to support asylum seekers, said: “People say where do you draw the line but I think we do have to be sensitive.

"You wouldn’t make a joke about the Holocaust, so why would you about the deaths of three people in a van?

"My yardstick is I would never joke about anyone’s faith or background and I would never say anything that I would not want to hear myself.

"Let’s just respect each other.”

The Herald is delivered to 32,000 homes across Great Harwood, Oswaldtwistle, Rishton, Clayton-le-Moors, Stanhill, Church, Knuzden, Padiham and Burnley, but bosses said the joke only appeared in the Hyndburn edition.

A spokesman said: “The Herald is a light-hearted monthly magazine and we like to bring a bit of humour to our readers.

"It was meant as a joke and though some are talking it into a racial issue, it wasn’t meant to be that way.

"We do apologise if we have upset or offended anybody as we never meant to.”

Tesco declined to comment.