POLICE say calm has been restored after racial tension spilled over into violence last week.

Backed by parents, community leaders and staff at Broad Oak High School, Bury, police have spoken to a number of youths to successfully diffuse a potentially explosive racial situation in East Ward.

Senior officers appealed through the Bury Times for calm after two racially-motivated incidents last week.

In one case, police intervened in a planned street fight among whites and Asian youths, some as young as ten. An horrific arsenal of weapons was recovered.

Two days later, around 50 armed white youths attempted to smash their way into the New Kershaw Centre in Deal Street to fight with youngsters inside.

Inspector Steve Ellis of Bury police said: "We have spoken to everyone involved in the incident and I am confident the matter is now at an end."

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