THE director of Bury Racial Equality Council (BREC) has met the new Home Secretary to press for extra funding.

Mr Khalid Hussain held talks with David Blunkett in Sheffield to discuss direct Home Office funding for BREC.

And he also underlined what he termed as the "urgent need" to establish a national trust to support bereaved families that have lost their breadwinners to racist crimes.

Mr Hussain discussed the case of murdered Bury taxi driver Tariq Javed and the death of Liaquat Ali who was killed while in lodgings in the town.

He said the loss of these two people had "devastated their families." The director briefed Mr Blunkett and praised the "excellent response" by Bury police and other agencies in dealing with those tragic deaths.

He said: "The new Home Secretary acknowledged my recommendations and the loss of life.

"He re-assured me his first priority as Home Secretary will be the prevention and reduction of crime and a clampdown on thuggery, brutality and exploitation in order to create safer communities."

Mr Hussain also asked the Home Secretary to consider direct Government funding for the racial equality organisation.

At present, BREC receives grants from The Commission for Racial Equality Council and Bury Council to run its operations.

But he says direct cash from the Home Office will strengthen BREC and allow is to extend its services to the public.

Mr Hussain continued: "I was impressed with the Home Secretary's knowledge of heightened racial tensions in Oldham and Burnley and to his commitment to tackling racially-motivated crime.

"I invited the Home Secretary to visit BREC and I hope he accepts the offer."