IT may have at first seemed a fairly run-of-the-mill date in the diary but the visit by senior army officers to a Nelson mosque could be just the start of a process to bring communities closer together.

Members of the army’s engagement group had been invited to attend the Minhaj-ul-Quran mosque and the team spent their time answering questions from the community and talking about issues such as the effects of conflict on civilians and career opportunities in the military.

At a time when extremists seem only too keen to drive a divide between people, this enterprising meeting - the first of its kind in the country - demonstrates that in East Lancashire cohesion is at the top of the agenda.

The more people of all backgrounds, religions and socio-economic groups understand each other, the better it will be for everyone.

Cohesion not division should be the watchword on everyone’s lips and both the mosque leaders and the army should be congratulated for taking the first steps in breaking down perceived barriers and differences.

There used to be an old TV advert for BT which used the slogan “It’s Good To Talk”.

The army and mosque leaders are certainly demonstrating that fact.