OH dear, these BNP supporters are becoming ten a penny.

In France, Holland and Burnley racists are taking up positions of authority.

And its no laughing matter- though Stan Boardman tried to do something

he's never done before- tell a funny joke, and then an MP got in on the act.

I know there are plenty of things wrong with our Asian community -

those wrought iron railings we insist on putting round our houses, the penchant for plastic flowers and our love of those hideous tissue boxes which purport to be gold but are actually just a travesty- but come on, we have also contributed a lot to our host country.

Never mind that at the height of Islamic civilisation libraries and universities flourished and there was great advancement in medicine, science, the arts and architecture.

Let us consider what we have to show for years of being here in England - 99p chicken and chips (though I once shamed myself up by waiting in the queue for my penny change). Also those enormous pizzas which cost about £3 and can feed a family of six. And donner kebabs.

I strongly believe they are the reason that the neo- Nazis have been quelled in Germany.

Also, I don't know if that's because all the skinheads get poorly after eating them and in no mood for fighting.

But seriously, food is the er, food of love and can build bridges - especially if you get your kebabs from the same place as I do.

Anyway, the point is there are lots of reasons to feel proud of who we are. Just look at the world of sport. Our Muslim brethren dominate in sporting matters such as Muhammed Ali, Prince Naseem, Imran Khan, and the lad who made the front page of every national paper, Shoaib Akhtar, nicknamed the Rawalpindi Express for his record-breaking bowling. Though this is ironic as anyone who has been on the Rawalpindi Express will know, the express goes at about 2mph.

And I don't really know if throwing a ball fast is a worthwhile contribution to mankind but there you go.

Don't we feel any pride that the captain of the English cricket team is

Nasser Hussain?

And of course, there is Zinedine Zidane the French football star.

We can't all be superstars but we do have other things to offer.

Whalley Range in particular is a treasure trove of delights, a jewel in the crown. It boast some of the most diverse shops and best fruit and vegetables around. And good shops are not exactly ten a penny. Though the contents may be.