There were pleas for calm and understanding following raids on premises in the region.

It came after highly publicised raids at an Islamic College in Blackburn and at an address in Manchester. Raids continued throughout the UK with terror suspects originally arrested by armed police, being rearrested on lesser charges, Scotland Yard said.

Four men and two women were taken into custody after Anti-Terrorist Branch officers swooped on homes and businesses in Cambridge and east London early on Tuesday December 2.

All were originally arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act, on suspicion of involvement in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. Fourteen people were arrested in London, Cambridge, Walsall, Dudley and Luton after officers targeted a number of homes and businesses.

These raids co-incided with the news that Said Badat, 24 had been charged with conspiring with 'shoe bomber' Richard Reid to cause an explosion.

He studied for two years at the Islamic College of Knowledge and Guidance in Moss Street, Blackburn and was arrested last week by Metropolitan Police officers.

Speaking to Asain Image, Ibrahim Master Chairman of Lancashire Council of Mosques said: "The raid on the Islamic college has greatly tarnished the image of the College. We support the Government's initiatives on security but these should not involve the hounding and harrassing of innocent Muslim individuals."

"The media frenzy which followed the initial raids has in some ways created paranoia on both sides."

"Islam prohibits the loss of innocent lives and as such we condemn all acts of terrorism, whether it's here in the UK or anywhere else in the world."

Mr Master added, "We want to reassure the community of Blackburn and hope that race relations continue to be excellent."

Manchester City Councillor Afzal Khan told us, "We support the need for the police to ensure that there isn't a major terrorist incident in the UK. However, they need to make sure their intelligence is sufficient and innocent Muslims are not targeted. This would only harm community relations in the UK."

Police chiefs have also denied reports of a specific terrorist threat against Manchester United FC.

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Whatton, head of Crime Operations at Greater Manchester Police, said, "There has recently been speculation about a specific terrorist threat to football clubs and their grounds in the Greater Manchester area. This is not the case.

"The threat level is currently general, which means that we are not aware of any specific targets. Everyone should remain vigilant, but there is nothing to stop people carrying on with their normal lives." It has also been revealed the total cost of the war on terror so far was put at £5.5 billion by Chancellor Gordon Brown.

In Commons debate on the Queen's Speech, Mr Brown said the costs covered operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. His announcement came ahead of the pre-Budget report.

Mr Brown told MPs, "The total spent and committed so far for the war on terror and our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan is around £5.5 billion."