RELIGIOUS leaders have spoken of their fear after the community suffered repeated racial attacks in the wake of the terrorist atrocities in the US.

Members of the Sikh community, in Darlington, are terrified of leaving their homes because they fear they may be subjected to abuse or violence.

Community leaders have been quick to condemn last month's attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, in which thousands of people, many of them British, were killed.

Sikhs in Darlington believe that people are mistaking them for Muslims because they are Asian and wear turbans, like terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, who is thought to be behind the attacks in New York and Washington.

Suhkraj Singh, 24, a teacher and Sikh preacher, travelled from West Yorkshire yesterday to visit the Darlington gurudwara, the Sikh place of worship.

He said: "People are giving us dirty looks, shouting racist abuse, and even throwing stones and eggs at our gurudwara, because they think we are Muslims.

"We are a quiet community and people, and we are often too worried about going to the police because we don't want to cause a fuss. We are completely different. Ours is a peaceful religion, that treats everyone equally, and we are as shocked as anyone at the terrorist attacks."

Mr Singh's comments came hours after youths threw eggs at the gurudwara, in Louisa Street, on Saturday night.

Kewal Singh Randhawa, vice-president of the Darlington gurudwara, said that racial abuse directed at Sikhs in the town had risen dramatically since the terrorist attack.

He said: "Recently there were 13 or 14 kids around the gurudwara. They were throwing stones at a car and then they ran away. I feel its because I've got a turban on. I feel frightened to walk on the street."

Practising Sikhs wear turbans or head dresses, carry a small ceremonial sword, wear traditional undergarments and never cut their hair.

Mr Singh said: "We want people to understand that our religion promotes love and the defence of faith, whatever the religion."