IN the fifth, and final, part of our analysis of how far Burnley has come since the riots 10 years ago, we spoke to young people about growing up in the town, and their hopes for the future.

WHEN Lord Clarke was researching his report into the Burnley riots in 2001 one of the many places he visited was a local school.

He was shocked to hear the children say they could not wait to escape a town they felt held no future for them.

Youngsters told him that there were no job prospects, and they had no hope of achieving their ambitions.

But 10 years on the situation is beginning to change, although the youth of today admit the town still has a long way to go to satisfy the ambitions of all.

The majority of people I spoke to told of how racial integration had improved since they began to go through the education system.

They spoke of better relations in schools and colleges, and improved community facilities which brought teenagers together.

Daniel Worrell, 21, said: “There are a lot more youth centres about now, and there is more for youngsters to do.

"People mix a lot more and there are far fewer racial problems in the town because people share these facilities and see each other more.”

Wayne Appleby, 22, said: “There is more interaction in communities compared to a few years ago, and everybody gets on better because they spend more time together.”

However, Ashanoor Kabir, 18, who is unemployed and lives in Daneshouse, said: “I think there is still a problem with different ethnic communities, different religions.

“People are more educated than they were 10 years ago, but there is still grief and racism.”

The biggest advancement in keeping high achievers in Burnley has been the £81million Burnley College and University campus.

But while education options are now blossoming, young people said there were still not enough jobs.

Steven Radcliffe, 19, said a lot of people were still looking to Manchester for work, because of a lack of opportunities in Burnley.

He said: “I have recently lost my job and it is going to be a battle to get back into work.

“A lot of people are still heading to Manchester to find work because there is very little in this area.

“It is slowly getting better, but not quickly enough.”

Twenty-year-old Jamie Gorton hands his CV out to companies every day, but still hasn’t found a job, and said it can get people down when they are trying hard, but not finding work.

“People are going to college and getting qualifications, but it doesn’t seem to be helping. It’s making no difference.”

Dilshad Hoque, 18, is studying a BTEC in business but is also disillusioned with job prospects.

He said: “The recession has left few opportunities for people.

“If you look around here it is a mess and there doesn’t seem to be the investment in, for example, our local football pitch.

“I’m planning on going to university away from the town.”

It is hoped that the University of Central Lancashire campus which opened in the same building as the college, in Princess Way, will convince more Burnley students to seek their education in their home town.

Josh Holmes , 17, a student at Burnley College, said he would probably stay in the town to go to university.

Josh said: “I would go to university here because it would be cheap.

"It’s my home town and I want to stay and work here and I think I can do that.”

Foyzul Hoque, 18, of Daneshouse, Burnley, said while he was looking at moving to Bradford because Burnley was a poor town, he believes it is heading in the right direction.

He said: “Maybe in another 10 years it will have improved with new facilities.

“At least the government are trying to do something about it.”

The youth of today paint a picture nowhere near as bleak as the class of 2001, who felt disenchanted with the town and desperate to escape.

But it seems the key to keeping today’s youngsters will be creating the job opportunities so the cream of the crop remain in the area after finishing their studies.