A soldier who served in Kosovo visited three Keighley schools as part of a project to address the issues of racism and intolerance.

Pupils at Nessfield Primary School, St Andrew's C of E Primary School and Our Lady of Victories Catholic Primary School were given a talk and shown photographs about peace-keeping in Kosovo.

The talk was part of the Heartstone Project, which is based on a fictional story, the Heartstone Odyssey. It is currently being run in 13 schools in Keighley and Bradford with the help of Surestart and the Children's Fund.

Sgt Keith Ridding, of the 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards, presented photo-stories to the children. He said: "The stories show how the peace-keepers turned the situation around in Kosovo and the problems and prejudice we witnessed.

"Hopefully, the children will find it fun but educational."

Elizabeth Hannam, one of teachers involved at Nessfield school, said the pupils were reading the book and discussing its ideas.

The scheme has been run to directly address recommendations made in the Ouseley Report, looking at race relations in the area in the wake of the Bradford riots.

The schools were chosen because they represent different types of population and to promote communication between schools of all white and 100 per cent ethnic minority intake.

Future events will include a dance workshop and discussion of personal experiences.

The project was the brainchild of Indian dancer Sitakumari.

She said: "Heartstone is about changing perceptions, about recognising similarities instead of differences, about seeing people instead of prejudices."