HOME Office minister John Denham said he believed Burnley had responded well in trying to bring communities closer together following the disturbances last year.

The minister toured the town meeting community groups and leaders and was briefed on the work being done by Burnley Borough Council, Lancashire County Council and other partner agencies in the wake of the troubles in June.

He walked in Venice Street and Howard Street, meeting community wardens and the community beat police officers, as well as taking a tour through the Stoneyholme and Daneshouse, Duke Bar and Burnley Wood areas.

He said: "The overwhelming impression I have of Burnley is a really positive one.

"No-one is going to suggest that the problems that Burnley faced were simple or that there are overnight solutions but what is clear is that every single one of the agencies involved has a clear idea that they've got part of the solution in their hands and they are determined to get on with it.

"Talk is also very important. One of the conclusions of the reports of all the areas that have had troubles was that people from the different communities were not talking to each other.

"We need to look for the opportunity to bring people from different communities together and some of that is happening in the schools and within the criminal justice system so that they can overcome their differences."

He said he believed that there needed to be more work done in the youth justice system, that businesses communities should be brought together to break down the barriers between Asian people and white people, that the housing issue in Burnley was a problem and that his meeting with young people yesterday had reinforced the message that there must be a voice for the young people.

Students and pupils from Burnley College, including the chairman of Burnley Youth Council, Chris Kearney, and Mohammed Afzal of the Lancashire Youth Parliament, and pupils from Towneley High School discussed their concerns with the minister.

Stuart Caddy, leader of the council, said: "It was absolutely brilliant. The young people spoke about how they've felt since the disturbances and it was interesting for me to hear their views.

"They said they felt there was still a lot of work to be done and there should be more youth activities in the borough.

"They felt there was still a slight bit of tension in certain parts of the town but I asked if it was improving and they said yes and that a lot of that was because people were trying to integrate. The minister responded really well and he said that things aren't going to happen over night but that it is part of his agenda to talk to youngsters."

Mr Denham concluded his visit to East Lancashire by travelling to Pendle, where he met with the leader of the council, Councillor Azhar Ali, and chief executive, Stephen Barnes.

He was shown the recently installed alley gates in Nelson, which seal off the back street between two blocks of terraced houses in a bid to cut household crime.

The minister also gave his seal of approval to the proposed £380,000 CCTV system for Colne, which will incorporate 14 cameras around the town centre and the railway station.

His visit ended with a discussion in Colne Town Hall about social cohesion and how the government could help places like Pendle and Burnley in the way of government resources.