CALLS have been made for a 'open and frank discussion' about the dangers of ISIS and other extremists recruiting people in East Lancashire.

Political and religious leaders have said they are unaware of any youngsters from the area who have attempted to join terrorist groups in Syria, following the arrest of 18-year-old Ednane Mahmood.

He has been charged with distributing terrorist material online and attempting to enter Syria with the intention of committing terrorist acts.

The Lancashire Council of Mosques said it had consistently warned worshippers in East Lancashire not to make 'ill-advised' trips to Syria.

Its chairman, Abdul Hamid Qureshi, from Burnley, said: "It is quite disturbing that these groups could attract people from our area.

"The danger of young Muslims being brainwashed by such groups is worrying in every aspect."

Councillors in Mahmood's home ward of Bastwell in Blackburn said they could not believe that teenagers in the area were tempted to join radical groups.

Labour's Iftakhar Hussain said: "It is worrying but I don't think it is widespread. I have not heard of any other incidents where someone from Blackburn has allegedly tried to go to Syria.

"We are doing all we can in the mosques but when there is such information available on the internet, young people can get information from all sorts.

"I think we need to look at the misleading information that is available online and try to stop it."

Bob Eastwood, the Conservative candidate for Blackburn in the upcoming General Election and a former divisional commander in the town for Lancashire police, said the 'vast majority' of Blackburn's Muslims has principles which matched 'the British way of life'.

He said: "Blackburn's community is mature enough and sufficiently well-established that the vast majority of people here have quite well-defined values and principles in relation to the British way of life.

"While there are always potential examples of people being radicalised, they would be massively the exception and certainly not the rule.

"I have never encountered a family in Blackburn with fears about a relative travelling to Syria."

Another Bastwell councillor, Labour's Shaukat Hussain, said he would be 'very surprised' if there were other terrorism cases.

He said: "To be honest, round here, I'd be shocked if there were any other cases, but you can never be sure that someone won't slip through.

"I was so surprised to hear about these two arrests as this is largely a good area."