TWO communities swapped cultural experiences in a scheme to bring them closer together.

A group of elderly men and women from a predominantly Asian area of Blackburn met with over a dozen elderly people from a mostly white area of Darwen.

A 15-strong group from Hoddlesden Luncheon Club had a taste of south Asia: curry, chapatis and rice.

And about 15 Asian men and women from Bastwell Luncheon Club ate fish and chips.

The groups were brought together under a project funded by the government's Connecting Committee Plus fund.

Blackburn and Darwen PCT, Rehana Aktar from WRVS, and the local Care Network organised the project.

They met for the first time at Bastwell Luncheon Club based at the Kashmir Association, Whalley Range, Blackburn.

Abdul Hamid Pircha, 81, from Audley Range, is a member of the Bastwell Luncheon Club, said: "This project gets to the grassroots of the problem of isolation and integration. I have enjoyed this very much.

"I have learnt a lot about other people and people have different lives but we are all the same. It was wonderful."

Diana Beaton, 64 from Hoddlesden, said: "This has been very interesting and I have really enjoyed it.

"I think we have become good friends. However different our lives maybe we are all the same in reality."

Shakil Salem, community development officer for Blackburn with Darwen PCT, said: "The fish and chips lunch in Hoddlesden went down a storm."