DEPUTY Prime Minister John Prescott was due in Burnley today to discuss the way forward after the race riots.

The visit followed a promise by Prime Minister Tony Blair to local MP Peter Pike shortly after the racial disturbances in June that he would try to arrange a visit for his deputy to try and deal with the problems that caused the recent troubles.

Mr Pike arranged a meeting after tackling Mr Blair on the problems at Question Time in the House of Commons.

Mr Prescott was due in Burnley in mid-afternoon after first visiting Manchester and Oldham, which also saw race riots in early summer.

He was expected at Burnley Town Hall to meet representatives of the local council, Mr Pike and community representatives.

When the visit was first suggested, Labour back bencher Mr Pike explained that Burnley Council needed more money to deal with the problems of the town in terms of poverty, deprivation and housing.

He asked for a Cabinet Minister to visit the town and particularly asked for John Prescott, who has the role of Cabinet enforcer and was, until the reshuffle, in charge of local government.

Mr Pike said there were deep-seated problems regarding government financing that needed to be sorted out.