THE PRINCIPAL of Burnley College has sought to reassure parents and students.

John Smith said he was fully aware that all parents were concerned about the safety and welfare of their children "as they hear about violent and other crime across the country".

He said: "I take extremely seriously the well-being of our sixth form students and we have very rigorous safeguards in place.

"This was recognised by the Government's education watchdog, OFSTED, when it carried out a planned inspection of the college just over three years ago.

"OFSTED commended the 'secure and calm environment' they found.

"Our students are overwhelmingly orderly and well behaved and they respect both the college and one another.

"I am also proud that the college sixth form students are drawn from all sections of the community with eight out of 10 being white British and two out of 10 Pakistani or Bangladeshi British in line with the local school population."

Police said they were stepping up patrols in Thompson Park, beside Burnley College, in a bid to reassure members of the public.

However, some students who regularly use the park as a short cut said they no longer felt safe there.

Mark Russell, 18, who is studying public services, of Walton Lane, Nelson, said: "This is very worrying.

"There's police all around and obviously not all the youngsters feel that safe.

"I was quite shocked to hear about it.

"Nothing like this has happened before apart from the riots in 2001 which were just near the park."

Carly Barton, 18, of Sutton Avenue, who is studying business administration, said she no longer felt safe walking through the park.

She said: "On Tuesdays we finish quite late so I am worried about walking anywhere near the park.

"It was quite shocking to hear about the attack. I've never heard of anything like this before."

An 18-year-old female student, who did not want to be named, said: "I think what has happened is disgusting.

"To stab someone's dad is horrible.

"We don't feel safe walking through the park."

Another female student, 19, who also declined to give her name, said: "We do not feel safe.

"They need to do something about the safety in the park.

"Our college is next door and all the students use the park."

A female student, who did not want to be named, said she shared a business class with Mohammed's son Umar.

She said: "He is such a nice lad and it's horrible thing to happen to anyone.

"He was the kind of lad who would never get into a fight."