A COMMUNITY cohesion worker has called on people to report incidents of hate crime in the wake of the Westminster terrorist attack.

Faz Patel from Blackburn said he has spoken to people who had been subjected to verbal abuse in the town and Burnley after the horrific attack on Wednesday.

Four people died after 52-year-old Khalid Masood drove into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before fatally stabbing a policeman at the gates of parliament.

Former Darwen Aldridge Community Academy headboy Travis Frain, 19, had to undergo surgery after suffering fractures to his leg and left arm when he was knocked down by the Hyundai ix40 which injured around 40 people.

The Edge Hill University student was visited by Prince Charles in hospital.

Mr Patel, who was awarded an MBE for his work promoting community cohesion, described the attack as ‘barbaric’ and said it was hard for the Muslim community to feel safe.

He called for the community to stand together in the face of terrorism.

He said: “Across the weekend I have heard of three people who have been called various things including ‘terrorist’.

“We have to encourage people to report it.

“This one individual, Khalid Masood, does not represent Muslims. When these things happen all communities should stand together.

“People are very concerned. They are scared when they are going out to communal places that they might be attacked. They understand the wider community is angry but we have to make sure we all stand together."

Mr Patel also raised concerns about radicalisation in prisons and said he is planning to lobby the government on tackling it.

Travis’s mum Angela Frain, 45, said Travis was doing well.

She said he has had another MRI scan on his knee and they are waiting for a slot to be free in surgery for his knee operation.

People can report hate crimes via True Vision www.report-it.org.uk.