A PRESTWICH Jewish councillor has hit out at "racists" in his own community.

Sedgley representative Councillor Paul Nesbit said he was appalled to receive phone calls and be hassled in the street by Jews making racist remarks against Asians.

The callers made derogatory remarks over Bury Council plans to sell the recently closed Brooklands library in Prestwich to a Muslim group which wants to turn it into a community centre.

Coun Nesbit said the insults were made mainly by Jews. "I had to turn round to one person who met me in the street and say "you are a fascist"," he said.

"I was quite annoyed. I believe if we are all God's people, what happened to one of the Commandments, "love thy neighbour as thyself"?"

The Labour councillor added: "The council is trying so hard to get some community spirit going - we don't have enough of it in this country."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.