A LOCAL Green Party activist is joining Muslims in St Albans and Harpenden in fasting for the traditional holy month of Ramadan.

Marc Scheimann, who will stand as a Green Party candidate for Harpenden in the 2005 county council elections, started his fasting on October 15. It means he cannot eat or drink during daylight hours until November 13.

Mr Scheimann, a Harpenden resident, said recent world events had prompted him to try to understand more about the local Muslim community and their religion. He said: "I think that at the moment the Muslim community is feeling very much alone and feeling the pressure of the recent acts of terrorism that have taken place. They feel a lot of attention has been been targeted at their community so I wanted to put out a hand of friendship."

Muslims in Luton and St Albans have been welcoming Mr Scheimann to their mosques to break the fast with them after sunset. Mr Scheimann said: "So far I have found the Muslim community extremely welcoming. We sit down and they prepare a meal for me, it's been a pleasure."

Mr Scheimann said he had not found his daytime hunger and thirst too hard - apart from being tempted by the odd piece of cake. He said: "It has been fine so far, I thought it was going to be difficult because we all drink countless cups of tea every day - it's nice to see that you can have strength over your body's wills.

"The one bad point was while I was on a march in London on Saturday and I saw a child with a piece of chocolate cake - I wasn't very proud of my thoughts at that moment."