HARROW Council has called for a far right group to cancel a protest over Halal school dinners.

The English Defence League (EDL) has been at the centre of a series of violent clashes, including in Bradford, Bolton and Birmingham, and is threatening to come to demonstrate outside Harrow Civic Centre on January 15.

Organisers say they want to hold a peaceful rally against the policy of offering only Halal meat in secondary schools.

Councillor Bill Stephenson, leader of the council, said: “Harrow is the most religiously diverse borough in the country and we are proud of our record of religious and racial harmony.

“Residents of all backgrounds have lived happily side by side in Harrow for many years. The people behind this planned protest are coming from outside the borough.

“While we support the right of any group to protest, we need to have a sensible debate about this issue and not use it to further political aims or create divisions among our communities and we would appeal to the organisers to cancel the demonstration.”

The EDL has not yet requested permission from the police to hold the rally but if it does go ahead Unite Against Fascism (UAF) says it will “mobilise against them”.