MEMBERS of the LGBT community are set to meet with council bosses to agree ways to make Barrow a safer place to be gay.

Following on from a meeting with staff from Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock's office, Barrow Borough Council has invited members of the gay community to speak about their experiences of hate crimes and threats.

The meeting, to be held at Barrow Town Hall on Tuesday July 18 from 5.30pm, has been organised after LGBT people attending a monthly gay pride night were allegedly threatened by a terror suspect.

Gay rights activist Lee Wicks has called on as many people as possible to attend the meeting.

He believes there is a need for a dedicated welfare centre in Barrow for members of the LGBT community.

"The fact is, we are faced with threats and hatred on a daily basis in Barrow," he said.

"We need to keep the profile raised for the need for an LGBT Centre to help both our group and the wider LGBT community."

A number of regular gay pride events are held in Barrow, including one at Traditions in Hindpool Road every Saturday night.

In light of last month's alleged threats, police officers met with Mr Wicks to agree extra patrols to reassure those attending events aimed at LGBT people.

"What has the world come to when we can't go out for a pint and a dance without feeling threatened?" he said.

"We won't take risks but we will carry on as normal. We are not going to let this beat us."

Unemployed 19-year-old Ethan Stables, of Egerton Court, was charged with possessing documents useful to people preparing or committing acts of terrorism. He is due to appear at the Old Bailey in London on Thursday July 20.

The New Empire, the target of Stables' alleged threats, is set to host its next gay pride festival on Saturday July 22 from noon, featuring performances from rag queen Kitty Litter, a Robbie Williams tribute, Denis Horan and Ashleigh Carling.