Until recently, both sides have co-existed relatively peacefully, But interference by the BNP has inflamed the situation, creating an incendiary conflict. “We are not racists and never have been”, says Maria Coulston, landlady of The Duke Of York, as she stands in the remains of her burnt-down pub. “I don’t know why they did this”. Asians and whites are equally bewildered and shocked by recent events. Although parts of the town are among the most deprived in the country, with wretched housing and high unemployment, many feel race “wasn’t an issue” - until now. Ahmed Maqsood’s popular shop was firebombed 2 weeks ago, while his children slept in the flat above. Like most businesses he has boarded up the windows, but remains open. “This senseless violence is disgusting...”, says a customer. But Hussain Khalid claims he was beaten bloody by the police for no reason other than that he is Asian. And local nationalists, the BNP, claim whites “feel oppressed”. There is evidence that they are spreading rumours to inflame the situation. A worrying look at neglected issues of class and race in Britain today.

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