THE manager of a citizens advice bureau found guilty of race discrimination today spoke of staff's relief after its suspension from national association was lifted.

Sue Seabridge said the lifting of the suspension, imposed in January 1999, was a morale-boost for the Blackburn with Darwen bureau, which carried on working despite not having the backing of the association.

"It means that this thing that has been hanging over our heads has been lifted which is a great relief," said Mrs Seabridge. "We can now look forward to developing the work of the bureau. We never closed the branch and the people of Blackburn and Darwen have always had the confidence in our work."

The lifting of the suspension, which comes into affect immediately, means the local branch can now reaffirm links with the National Association of the Citizens Advice Bureaux (NACAB) and attend important meetings such as the AGM.

The January 1999 suspension was brought after former manager Robina Naseem lodged a complaint of racial discrimination after she was sacked nine months into her job. A tribunal in Manchester upheld the complaint and NACAB suspended the branch.

The bureau's management committee resigned as a result and chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association Gordon Taylor took over, pledging to rebuild links with the Asian community.

Today, he said he was delighted that committee members, staff and volunteers had been vindicated.

"It has justified my confidence in all who work at the bureau," he said. "It is a tribute to the excellent work done by the bureau in the last 18 months and it is busier than ever helping people from all sections of the community with answers to their diverse problems."