THE NUMBER of reported racial incidents in schools in Lancashire has risen by 907 per cent since 1997, according to new figures.

Today a county MP said the numbers were worrying but teaching unions said they showed that schools and pupils were actively tackling racism.

The figures show a jump from 52 incidents in the school year 1997 to 1998, to 472 in 04/05 in schools under the control of Lancashire County Council (LCC).

Reported incidents in primary schools were up 1095 per cent from 1997 to 2004, and in secondary schools there was a 616 per cent rise over the same period.

A racist incident can range from a joke to actual physical violence.

Nigel Evans, MP for Ribble Valley, who requested the figures said: "The trend is awful, if it goes unchecked then the number of incidents could be up to 1,000 a year."

The county council said the figures showed a rise in reporting and not actual incidents, and the increase was down to better awareness of racial issues in schools.

Les Turner, Lancashire secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "The procedures in the county council's schools have improved and people are taking the problem more seriously."

Dick Greenfield, Lancashire representative on the national executive of the NASUWT said: "It's sad but realistic, but I do think as there has been more education there has been more reporting of incidents"

Lord Tony Clarke, who led the Burnley disturbances task force, said rise of reported incidents in county council schools was probably due to young people being more willing to speak out.

Coun Dave Hollings, executive member for education and lifelong learning at Blackburn with Darwen, said: "The council works closely with schools to ensure that it is understood that racism will not be tolerated."

The Department for Education and Skills said a national comparison could not be made as education authorities were not required to report their figures to them.