A POWERFUL committee of MPs investigating the aftermath of the Burnley riots has warned against creating new faith schools.

The all-party group which shadows Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said religious colleges could make racial tensions worse.

And it calls for more action to try and encourage people to live, work and be educated together.

The report follows plans to split a new sixth form centre into Roman Catholic and non-denominational schools revealed earlier this month.

Education chiefs in Burnley said the report should not change the major shake-up of the town's schools under the government's "Building Schools for the Future" programme.

The House of Commons Committee which covers housing, planning, local government and the regions says: "The students in many schools do not reflect the range of cultural groups in their locality. Parental choice is a key factor and is influenced by ignorance and fear of other cultures.

"Single faith schools tend not to see their role in promoting social cohesion. No new faith schools should be approved unless they are committed to promoting multi-cultural education."

Following the publication of the report today Committee Chairman Andrew Bennett added: "There are still concerns that some communities are turning in on themselves and trying to create mono-cultural areas."

County Councillor Alan Whittaker, the cabinet member for education, stressed he had not read the report, but said the MPs' views would not alter plans to include a Catholic high school and sixth form in the authority's ambitious proposals.

He said: "I am sure this won't affect the bid that we made and that we are currently developing.

"We require and have received the support of all the faith communities for the bid. There will be no proposals to change the framework we have, which is well thought out and is based on real consultations with all sections of the education community. All the faith communities in Lancashire see it as an important part of their purpose to promote social cohesion."