A BURY racial equality chief is spearheading the building of bridges between the police and the ethnic youth in riot-hit Oldham.

Dr Mohammed Sharif Salim has organised a seven-a-side football tournament in Oldham where he is co-ordinator of the town's Coppice Community Centre.

And teams from Bury will be among those to take part in the event, to be staged on Sunday, April 14 at Boundary Park, Oldham.

Dr Salim, who is the chairman of Bury Racial Equality Council, works in Oldham which last year was hit by racial trouble.

He said: "After the recent riots and the Ritchie Report, it is apparent there is not only lack of understanding between youths and cultures residing in Oldham, but also with the police force.

"Therefore, holding a football tournament between the various ethnic youth teams and the police is an ideal first step in bridge building."

Multi-racial teams will be taking part in the tournament. Bury Racial Equality and the town's Jinnah Day Care Centre will be fielding a squad as will Bury police.

Dr Salim also paid tribute to the sponsors of the tournament, including the Army, Bury Police, Greater Manchester Police Authority and Oldham FC.

He added: "We hope to hold this tournament bi-annually, alternatively in Oldham and Bury."