BLACKBURN with Darwen residents are being invited to take part in a major national research study is looking into the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on community cohesion .

The University of Kent is leading the study.

The aim is to understand how the current crisis has affected relations between neighbours, perceptions of different ethnic and religious groups, and levels of trust in others.

Blackburn with Darwen is involved in the study as one of the UK's pilot Integration Areas.

Cllr Mohammed Khan, leader of the borough council, said: “Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, it has been heartening to see people from all different walks of life working together to support vulnerable people in need. People's experiences and opinions will be very valuable to this study.”

Funded by the Nuffield Foundation, each of the four surveys - in June, August, September and October - takes around 30 minutes to complete.

Sayyed Osman, Blackburn with Darwen's director of adult services, said: “The results of this research study will support the work of our social integration programme 'Our Community, Our Future' .

“Specifically, this project will help us to better understand how Covid-19 has affected relations between ethnic and religious communities in Blackburn with Darwen, and the extent to which these changes are likely to persist in the long term."