SCHOOLS across the Ribble Valley are to sign up to a pioneering charter as part of a rural racism crackdown.

The charter, believed to be the first of its kind in the country, is expected to be rolled out across Lancashire if it is a success in the Ribble Valley.

As part of the charter, schools will adapt their curriculum to include more work about different cultural, racial and religious backgrounds so that youngsters understand better about the world around them.

Launching the charter in front of headteachers from 29 primary and secondary schools at Ribble Valley Town Hall, the man in charge of education at Lancashire County Council insisted there were race issues to be tackled in the area. Coun Alan Whittaker, cabinet member for education, said while the Ribble Valley might not have the same sort of issues which resulted in the Burnley riots in the summer of 2001, there was a need for greater promotion of racial understanding in schools.

Malcolm Blackburn, from the county council, said the idea for the charter was first mooted last autumn by governors at St James' Primary School in Clitheroe.

Secondary schools signing up to the charter include: Bowland High School, Grindleton; Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, Ribblesdale High School, Clitheroe, and St Augustine's RC High School in Billington.

Primary schools to have signed up include Balderstone St Leonards CE, Barrow County, Bolton-by-Bowland CE, Brennand's Endowed, SLaidburn; Brookside County, Clitheroe; Chatburn CE, Edisford County, Clitheroe; Gisburn County, Grindleton CE, Mellor St Mary's CE, Pendle County, Clitheroe; Read St John's CE, Sabden County, Salesbury CE, St James' CE, Clitheroe; St Joseph's, Hurst Green, St Leonard's, Langho; St Mary's RC, Osbaldeston; St Mary's RC, Langho; St Mary's RC, Sabden; St Michael and St John's RC, Clitheroe; St Peter's CE, Simonstone; Thorneyholme RC, Dunsop Bridge; Waddington and West Bradford CE.