Burnley riots 10 years on: Have we healed the wounds?

But they say that a lot of progress has been made in the town.

However, some people at the grassroots point to instances of racism occurring on an almost daily basis and have expressed fears about continuing potential for unrest.

In the summer of 2001 Burnley was in the grip of violence and fear as 200-strong groups went on the rampage.

The riots opened up a gaping wound in race relations in the town, and ever since leaders have been working to reconcile different communities and regenerate Burnley.

There have been major developments, such as £250million worth of new schools, a university and the Building Bridges scheme, which was set up after the violence to enhance awareness and understanding between different faiths.

But many acknowledge there is much more to be done to improve integration and tackle the root causes, such as deprivation and lack of employment opportunities.

And the massive challenge still ahead was underlined by Naz Ahmed and his family who run King’s Taxis in Yorkshire Street – a road which saw flashpoints during the riots.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph for a special series of features over the next five days, Mr Ahmed revealed his 60 drivers were racially abused ‘night after night’ in the town.

The 21-year-old added: “The big problem is drink and drugs.

“Most of the time my drivers are okay but at weekends there is a lot of abuse.

"I remember all of the trouble 10 years ago but, even though Burnley is still like it is, I can’t imagine race riots again.

“Things at the moment are stable but there is a definite undercurrent of unrest.

“I think one thing that has changed and one thing that makes a big difference is the police.

“If anything happens and we call the police, they are here straight away and that makes us feel safer.”

Bishop of Burnley, the Right Rev John Goddard, highlighted the issues he felt were still causing separation.

He said: “I believe all sections of the community need to work to respect and honour integration, so people feel they can respect diversity and different cultures.”

“This will not happen until people of Asian heritage have the confidence to live anywhere in Burnley, rather than one particular area.

“Also, the indigenous community need to have the confidence not to feel threatened by anyone of a different race or culture and to welcome them into their communities.”

Despite his concerns the bishop pointed out the ‘remarkably good things I would like to celebrate’.

“Some of the worst housing has come down and a lot of homes have been renovated or replaced, and I was privileged to be invited to the launch of the new university and college campus”, he said.

“The efforts made under the Building Schools for the Future programme have been remarkable, although we still need to get the results right.

“There needs to be an underlying confidence in Burnley, in the town itself and where it lies in Lancashire.”

Peter Pike, who was Burnley MP at the time of the riots, highlighted continuing problems such as employment prospects, lack of private sector investment and new schools ‘not having the impact they should’.

But he added: “I think the town has moved forward and I think there are reasons to be positive, with the new college and university campus especially.

"In Burnley I have never found any evidence of extremism - most people want to work together.”

Rafique Malik, who was deputy mayor in 2001 and a councillor until 2006, said ‘so much had been spent on bricks and mortar’ but called for more time on ‘human development in education and training’.

He said: “Young Asian people who have been born and brought up here have high expectations and strong feelings about inequality.

“I can understand how you have white, young people, who can be easily exploited if they are suffering from deprivation, poverty and unemployment and a lack of education. The recipe was there.

"It is still there slightly but it does not mean there has not been progress made.”

He also called for more funding to create employment opportunities.

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle admitted there are still ‘a lot of problems’.

He added: “These have not just appeared on the scene overnight.

“They are the products of 50 years of decline, not only in properties but the economy of the town.

“The town lost a lot of its traditional industries and mills, which had mixed workforces who got on together.

“Fortunately, we are managing now to build the economy back again on a manufacturing base.

“It is not the old textile and metal-bashing industries but more advanced industries where young white and Asian people can mix.

“If anyone goes to Burnley College they can see the community spirit there, with the staff all working together to ensure that there are young people with good qualifications to secure the kind of jobs which we are starting to attract now."

Chief Superintendent Clive Tattum, Burnley’s police commander, said the ‘disorder’ was based ‘around criminality.

Mr Tattum said ‘we ended up with what was billed as race riots when at the start that didn’t have anything to do with it’.

He added: “I would like to see this negative tag, which has been attached to the town, removed.

"The football team was promoted to the Premier League and automatically it seemed to disappear for a while.

"People could see it was a really forward-thinking place and local people need to support that.”

Council leader Coun Charlie Briggs believes ongoing efforts by the borough’s community cohesion department would help to prevent a repeat of the trouble a decade ago.

He said: “We have come a million miles since the disturbances.

"Burnley might not be perfect, not by a long chalk, but we are getting there.”