A community group which invited the English Defence League (EDL) to Preston for 'dinner and a nice chat' say their invitation still stands despite an initial rebuttal.

The Light Foundation came up with the idea after the EDL announced they will be holding a march in the town on February 20.

Among other absurd claims the EDL said that Deepdale in the city was a no-go zone for non- Muslims.

Nadeem Ashfaq, the Light Foundation’s co-founder had earlier said, “That’s complete nonsense because we have regular interfaith dialogue meetings in the centre of Deepdale, a place called St George’s Road, where we have Muslims and non-Muslims sitting for meetings where we discuss a whole host of different subjects.

“It’s just absurd lies that Deepdale has a no-go area.”

“We’ve said to the EDL: Look, let’s sit down and let’s talk about these issues and let’s do it over some food. We can listen to your concerns.

“We’re here to listen to you and hopefully you can listen to us and understand that when we say there aren’t any no-go areas in Preston, that is the truth.”

But in a statement released on Facebook (which has since been deleted) a spokesperson for the far right group said, “I have just seen a post on here and would like to put to bed the subject in connection with this Light Foundation meal offer. No way on earth while I have a hole in my bum will I give them a minute of our time."

Responding to the refusal to meet Nadeem and co-founder Arfan Iqbal told Asian Image, "We are disappointed that the hand of friendship, and with this, the opportunity for constructive dialogue, has been declined.

“We had received interest from news channels and newspapers across the UK who were willing to record and document the meeting.

“We sincerely hope that the EDL reconsider their decision and look forward to the opportunity for all concerns to be discussed in a serious, honest, but friendly environment."