POLICE were today patrolling outside an East Lancashire high school following a series of racist fights between Asian and white pupils.

The tension, said by police to have been going on for two weeks, came to a head on Monday when a white girl pupil at Haslingden High School was allegedly assaulted by two Asian teenagers.

Two pupils aged 15 and 17 from the school, which has a sixth form, appeared in court yesterday charged with racially aggravated wounding.

Police are investigating several other attacks, some racially motivated, which have occurred throughout the Haslingden area in October. Some of those incidents have also involved pupils from the school.

Police are investigating whether the incidents are linked but have avoided a police presence inside the school.

They are however mounting extra patrols in the area around the school in the morning and afternoon and said they expect to make more arrests. Police said that the 15-year-old school girl had been assaulted at the rear of some shops in Broadway Crescent, Helmshore, at around 1pm on Monday.

She was taken by ambulance to hospital for treatment on for her injuries, mainly facial.

Following the assault, police arrested three teenage males.

They were interviewed at Burnley and two were charged with a Section 18 wounding.

They appeared at Burnley magistrates court yesterday and were bailed.The third was released without charge.

Headteacher Eve Challinger said: "We excluded the two pupils immediately. We have been in regular contact with the families of both the injured girl and the excluded pupils.

"We have also been in regular contact with the police. Incidents such as this are extremely rare and are not tolerated."

Lancashire County Council cabinet member for education Coun Alan Whittaker, said: "I am aware of the incidents, some of which happened outside the school grounds.

"I have spoken to the head, Eve Challinger, who is writing to parents to reassure them.

"The school has been commended by Ofsted inspectors for its record of racial harmony which already exists within the school."

Detective Inspector Steve Pemberton said: "Positive police action has been taken in connection with this assault with two males aged 15 and 17 charged and put before the courts.

"We are currently looking at the other the incidents which will be thoroughly investigated and where there is enough evidence, police will take positive action against offenders in order to prevent any future instances of anti-social and intimidating behaviour.

"Working alongside our partners in the local community, including staff at Haslingden High School, we will take firm action against anyone caught behaving in an anti-social or violent manner."

One of the largest in the county, Haslingden High School has 1,499 on its roll and includes a sixth form college.

It is one of Lancashire's better performing high schools, and takes pupils from across Rossendale and parts of Hyndburn.

It was also praised by Ofsted inspectors during their last visit for continuing to improve.