A FAMILY believes it has been blessed after finding a religious message inside an aubergine.

Khadija Yakoob, 13, noticed that the veins inside the vegetable spelled the Arabic for "Allah is everywhere" when she sliced it open.

Now she and her family, of Randal Street, Blackburn, are celebrating what they believe is a miracle.

Khadija said: "It was just a normal aubergine, bought at Akhtar's on nearby Whalley Range, but as I was slicing I noticed an inscription from the Koran.

"It runs all the way through and it is not something we could have done ourselves.

"It is obvious we have been blessed, and to receive it at this time, during the month of Ramadan, is very special."

Her sister, Yasmin, 17, said they had shown it to leaders at the Randal Street mosque.

"They said it only came to lucky people who were entitled to paradise so it is quite an honour," she said.

The find is being kept in water until they can work out how to preserve it.

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