A TEENAGER was slashed across the face with a knife in a Blackburn high school playground.

Police today revealed they were treating the incident, involving a 14-year-old pupil at Queen's Park community technology college, as a racist attack.

The Asian teenager was injured during an incident at the Shadsworth Road school which involved a 15-year-old from another school, police said.

Detectives said 15 minutes before the boy was injured, a group of Asian youths from the school had been involved in an argument with a white youth at a chip shop in Shadsworth Road.

The injured pupil was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary for treatment to facial cuts and is recovering at home in Blackburn. But he has been left badly shaken.

The incident happened at around 1.10pm on Friday and detectives later questioned students at Queen's Park.

Det Sgt Ian Critchley, of Blackburn CID, said: "This is being dealt with as a racist incident. A 15-year-old youth entered the school grounds after a previous disturbance around the corner at a chip shop.

"On returning, the white youth has been involved in an altercation whereby an Asian youth has received two slash marks to his face."

Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member for education and lifelong learning Coun Mahfooz Hussai said: "You will always get the odd incident like this. In this instance, I believe the staff at Queens Park acted admirably to bring the incident under control. After that it is a police matter."

Today, the owners of Shadsworth Chippy, Shadsworth Road, said a customer had told them about the incident but they had not been aware of any trouble at the time.

A 15-year-old, also from Blackburn, was charged with wounding.

He will appear before magistrates in Blackburn tomorrow.

DS Critchley is appealing for any witnesses to the incident at the chip shop, or at the school, to contact him on 01254 353564.