A TERROR attack survivor and young peace activist addressed a special conference for Blackburn and Darwen school pupils.

Ahmad Nawaz, 18, spoke to 60 pupils and from eight borough secondary schools at the Schools Working Together gathering.

He survived a terror attack on his school in Pakistan which killed his brother, several friends and a number of teachers in 2014.

He now education, peace and youth empowerment.

The Schools Working Together conference brought together pupils from eight of the borough’s secondary schools.

They are Blackburn Central High School; Islamiyah Girls’ High School; Our Lady and St John Catholic College; Pleckgate High School; Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School; St Thomas’s Centre; Westholme School; and Witton Park Academy.

Their pupils have collaborated over the last year on activities to foster understanding between people from different cultures and faiths.

Mr Nawaz said: “I hope that hearing my story can help these young people to relate to what happened to me, especially as I am a similar age to them.

"I hope I can inspire them to get involved in community action, to spread messages of hope and tolerance, and to make a difference in their communities.”

Leanne Romney, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s prevent education officer, organised the one-day conference at Ewood Park last week.

She said: “The young delegates from all the schools involved have been inspiring."