AN INDIAN church built by donations from the people of Blackburn has been restored after being torched by an angry mob.

And the Lancashire Council of Mosques has condemned the desecration of the church in Malerkotla during a special meeting between its representatives and the man behind the fundraising, Raj Bilas, of Pleckgate.

A mob engraged by threats to burn the Quran in America set the church alight. The fire casued extensive damage to the interior of the church.

Mr Bilas, who was born in Malerkotla, said: “I was devastated with the incident because I have been brought-up with Muslim and Hindu friends. There have never been any problems in that town before.

"Things just got completely out of control. It is so upsetting and shocking for this to happen.

“Hindu and Muslim friends helped us to build this church in India and we also collected some money from Blackburn churches over 15 years ago.

“Since then I then I have been touched by the level of support I have recieved from the people of Blackburn and friends in Malerkotla.”

Mr Bilas said his school classmate Amjad Ali had now helped to restore the building along with government support.

“It just shows how a community can react when things like this take place," he said. "The building was restored within a day of the attack.”

A LCM statement said: “Religious places are sanctified and have always been respected by the Islamic tradition. Whilst we appreciate that sentiments around the burning of the Holy Quran are running high, our response should embody the teachings of Islam."

Salim Mulla, chair of the Lancashire Council of Mosques added: "We are shocked and saddened by the damage done to this church. We condemn all acts of desecration against the religious symbols of any faith."

The meeting was held at the Lancashire Telegraph offices in High Street, Blackburn, and attended by Shakil Salam, Director of the LCM and Canon Yaqub Masih, Chairperson of the Pakistan Christian Concern Group.