RESIDENTS have been having their say on a controversial television programme claiming segregation is getting worse in Blackburn a week on from it being aired.

Thousands of people tuned in to watch the BBC Panorama 'White Fright: Divided Britain' programme on Monday, with many more watching it on catch-up since.

The show said town had become geographically segregated with white families typically living in Mill Hill and Asian families typically living in Whalley Range.

The Lancashire Telegraph took to the streets in these areas to see how residents felt about the programme and its findings.

Roy Wallbank 36, in Mill Hill said: "In Blackburn the divide is massive.

"I've been away and noticed a lot more of it since I came back.

"It runs in the majority of the communities, you see it with the decline of the night life and closure of pubs.

"Even in Sunday league football, you get Asian teams and English teams, and you get big rivalries between fans.

"There has got to be that education level.

"You get areas such as Whalley Range and Bastwell which are predominantly Asian areas.

"Families will always stick together.

"I don't think it's going to get any better in the future."

Tina Christodoulides, 37, in Mill Hill said: "Some of it I agreed with, some of it I didn't.

"I thought it showed more of the Asian side.

"There are places in Blackburn where it is more separated and there are some places where it is more mixed.

"There are always places in the community where certain cultures want to go, they want to be near their families.

"I think schools should be more mixed."

Carl Berry, 52, in Mill Hill said: "Everything is always as it has been.

"You are always going to get the segregation with different cultures.

"Asian cultures are going to want to do different things with their time.

"I work with quite a few Asian people and we all get on fine and mix in that respect.

"But then people of different cultures want to do different things.

"White people might be wanting to go for a pint, where as Asians might want to go for a meal."

Panorama had originally visited in 2007 and reported a divide between Muslim Asian and white residents.

The recent film claimed the production team found a town even more geographically segregated.

Resident Ismail Firfire, 39, from Pleckgate, said: "I think everything was very one sided, it was not very fair.

"I think the area is very multicultural, people can make their own choices what to do.

"If you look at how many people are in Blackburn it is a mix.

"I think the integration is brilliant.

"I know there are some separate schools, but you do get a lot of integrated schools that work well.

"You get bad apples on both sides.

"People look for their nearest social hub.

"A lot of Muslims will look to live within walking distance to the nearest mosque, where as white people will maybe look for the nearest pub.

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Ahmed Alizaib, 34, Whalley Range, said: "I've been living here seven years and I definitely don't think the segregation is getting worse.

"People are definitely more integrated these days.

"In shops you see people from all different cultures come in.

"Usually everyone respects each other and their different cultures."

Mozzam Ali, 45, Whalley Range said: "I don't think what they did show was right.

"They showed Mill Hill and Whalley Range but what about Griffin, Shadsworth and everywhere else in Blackburn?

"The area as a whole with everyone is mixed.

"Of course people are going to want to live with those from their own culture.

"I have no problem with integration, I think it's fine."