COMMUNITY leaders in East Lancashire are planning to cross the racial divide in a bid to tackle the menace of drug abuse.

A major new anti-drugs campaign will see the Christian and Muslim communities join forces in a partnership to be unveiled at a major conference at Blackburn Rovers' Ewood Park tonight.

Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw will be at the event and the Government's drugs czar Keith Hellawell has agreed to be the main speaker.

The conference - which will be attended by 250 delegates - is part of a series of bridge building events aimed at uniting communities on topics of social concern.

Seasoned campaigners in the battle against drugs including Blackburn's Father Jim McCartney and Ilyas Foy of Muslim Action Against Drugs will also attend. Lancashire police are sponsoring the conference and senior officers and experts have agreed to take part.

The Rev Simon Bessant, director for Mission and Evangelism in Blackburn said: "Christianity and Islam have much in common as we face an uncertain future in Lancashire.

"Whilst recognising our differences, we are increasingly committed to working together for the good of our community, and drug misuse is something we are all concerned about."

Talha Wadee, director of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, added: "Tackling drug misuse from the faith perspective will hopefully be the first step in this continuous process of dialogue."

Mr Straw will also be launching a new drugs education leaflet aimed at the Hindu and Sikh communities. A special ceremony will mark the launch of the leaflet, the third in a series aimed at the ethnic communities.

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