POLICE and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw has praised an East Lancashire curry club which brings people from across communities together over a shared love of good food.

He was visiting Blackburn's Little Harwood Curry Club, established in 2005 to integrate people from across the neighbourhood and avoid them becoming isolated or vulnerable.

Mr Grunshaw said:"The curry club is a fantastic way to bring together people, some of whom may otherwise not get out into their community."

Kay Kareem who works with Little Harwood Curry Club and manages Little Harwood Community Centre where it meets on Monday lunchtimes, said: "Our aim is to get the community together and we have a hard working team. We offer everyone a warm welcome and want to motivate people to come out of the house, and make friends. It lifts you up."

The club is part of Mr Grunshaw's Our Lancashire initiative which has since November seen almost 500 community groups sign up to support and publicise their work.

Mr Grunshaw said: "Ensuring that everyone in the area knows about this club and the real positive impact it has is exactly why we created Our Lancashire."