POLICE fear an escalation of racial tension in Bury could end with the death of a child in a street fight.

Now senior officers are appealing to parents and community leaders to help diffuse a potentially explosive situation in the East Ward area.

The urgent appeal follows the intervention of officers in a planned street fight among whites and Asians youths - some as young as ten - on Monday evening in the Bell Lane and Rochdale Road area.

Several weapons, including knives, screwdrivers, iron bars and a baseball bat, were recovered when both groups scattered as the police stormed into the area. The force's helicopter was also called in to help disperse the gangs.

And on Wednesday night, around 50 armed white youths attempted to smash their way into the New Kershaw Centre in Deal Street to fight with youngsters inside.

Both disturbances are believed to be connected to racial incidents at Broad Oak High School, including an alleged assault on a white teacher by four Asian boys which has been vigorously denied by the school. As police prepare to step up patrols in the area, senior officers fear that, unless the matter is resolved, a child could be killed in a racially motivated street fight.

Inspector Steve Ellis, head of Bury Township, said: "The most shocking aspect of Monday's incident was that boys between ten and 14 years old were carrying these weapons, intending to seriously injure each other.

"If not for patrolling officers intervening, the situation could have been far worse and these weapons would have been used to injure or kill someone."

Police have already met with Broad Oak staff to discuss both incidents while the Bury Racial Equality Council have been approached about concerns of racial tension.

Mr Dennis Heaton, deputy head at Broad Oak, stressed that there was no racial tension evident at the school but he was concerned that pupils were involving themselves in potential violent gatherings.

He said: "We will work with the police, community leaders, parents and the pupils to try to resolve problems and prevent people from being injured."

Insp Ellis added: "The true cause of this racial tension is still a mystery so we need people to come forward with answers so we can nip this problem in the bud.

"We are also appealing to parents of all children in the area to take some responsibility for their children and take control of them before there is a tragedy."

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