AS A child, I lived in Ingham Street, Bury, which has one of the largest Asian communities in the town. There was never any trouble, the children played together without noticing any difference in colour or religion.

So what has happened in Oldham?

Racist idiots can cause an awful lot of pain to innocent people. I have friends from school who are police officers in Bury and if they were called to the devastation in Oldham I hope that they, and their colleagues, are safe and well.

NICK CROWTHER,

Holywell Green, Halifax.