THE bishop of Blackburn has been caught up in the controversy over a proposed burial ground after one of his private letters was delivered to residents.

The Rt Rev Nicholas Reade is "unhappy" the note, outlining his support in principle for the plan, was sent to residents living near the proposed site off the A59 at Old Langho.

Bishop Reade sent it to Lord Patel of Blackburn in February but an inquiry has failed to identify the person who leaked it to those living on the Brockhall estate.

Lord Patel, who is backing the controversial plans for the 1,000-plot, multi-faith burial ground on land opposite Northcote Manor, today said he had never even seen the letter. He said: "I have not received that letter and I am very surprised at what has happened. I don't know how it has been leaked. I will have a look into it."

And Sabir Esa, the

Blackburn businessman behind the scheme, also denied knowing about the leaking of the letter but vowed to apologise to the bishop. He added: "I don't know anything about it. Somebody is playing dirty tricks here."

The letter angered residents fighting the scheme who feel the bishop supported the plan without knowing the full facts. In it, Bishop Reade asks if there are any traffic problems with the scheme --seemingly oblivious to the 350 protesters who packed a public meeting last week to show their fury for that very reason.

One resident said: "I can't believe he is supporting the plans without even bothering to look at what is actually proposed."

But Canon Philip Gray, the bishop's chaplain, said the bishop knew nothing about the details of the proposal when he wrote the letter -- and was only privately offering his support in principle. He added the bishop was unhappy his letter was now being made public.

Canon Gray said: "He is very surprised and not a little disappointed at what has happened. It was a private letter between the bishop and Lord Patel after he had been asked whether he would support the plan in principle. He is not in a position to comment on a planning issue.

"It is clear the potential use of this letter could mislead as the bishop wrote it back in February and was only asked about the plan when there was no specific application."

Langho parish councillor Michael Collins said the letter was included in a private pack given to councillors. He added: "The people who made the application were trying to show there was a lot of support for it by including the bishop's letter. I don't know how a copy has got out. I can understand the bishop in being unhappy."

The multi-faith woodland burial ground on the 28-acre site over the road from Northcote Manor is the brainchild of Mr Esa, who has the support of the Tauheedul Islam Mosque, the region's biggest and oldest mosque.

The plans also include a 200-space car park, a 300 sq m administration and funeral prayer building, and a 1.5-mile track through the graveyard.