A PLANNED rally due to take place in Bolton by the right wing English Defence League (EDL) has been postponed.

Today, organisers said the event, scheduled to take place on March 6, had been halted after they discovered it clashed with a religious festival.

EDL founder Tony Robinson said this morning: “We have been made aware that there is a Hindu festival in Bolton on the same day.

“We are now trying to find another date for the demonstration which will be in about two months time.”

In a statement released on the EDL's website, the organisation claims to have received information that far-left groups were planning to attack Hindus whilst dressed in EDL clothing.

"This cowardly attack, had it taken place, was to be blamed on our organisation with the intent of discrediting our stated aim of peacefully protesting against radical Islam," it continued.

It said the EDL respected the Hindu community and was standing only against Muslim extremists.