The head teacher of a major inner city school today spoke of racism in the surrounding areas and the effect on his school.

In an exclusive interview with the Telegraph & Argus, Simon Willis said: "There is racism in the area and at times it comes into the school. It is exacerbated by what goes on outside the schools. It makes our lives harder.

"But the sort of programmes we do in the school do counter them."

Mr Willis, head teacher of predominantly Asian Carlton Bolling school, said there were some hardened views on race and a General Election with a focus on asylum seekers and refugees.

"It is a very difficult time for a city like Bradford," he added.

Carlton Bolling College has 1,550 pupils - 85 per cent of them Asian. About 70 per cent are of Pakistani and 15 per cent Bangladeshi origin.

Recently the school in Otley Road has been blamed for incidents in the neighbouring streets. It has spare places for 180 pupils, while parents from the Eccleshill area are turning them down, often because of the large numbers of Asian pupils and rumours of bullying.

The youngsters in the Eccleshill area would normally have gone to Eccleshill Upper but a major campaign to save it - backed by Mr Willis - failed, leaving families with the choice of Carlton Bolling, Imannuel College, Laisterdyke or Hanson schools.

Mr Willis said today of the 100 families allocated places at Carlton Bolling, about 50 did not come to the school, and of those who did arrive approximately half left for other schools. But he added several had now returned.

Mr Willis said: "I believe the people in Bradford north who don't want their children to come to Carlton Bolling see the racial mix of the school as a big issue.

"We see it as a positive asset of the school. We celebrate and thrive on our cultural diversity.

"Bullying is an issue but I don't think it is any better or any worse than any other schools.

"We have our fair share of difficult youngsters but we do have some absolute crackers.

"I would not say there are many racist incidents in the school, although there are in the surrounding area."

He said the evidence of drug taking in the streets outside the school was also increasing.

"I think in an area where drug taking is on the increase, crime and violence are also going to increase," he said.

He said the school was also suffering problems because it was working on two separate sites - one in Otley Road and the other in Barkerend Road.

He said an extra senior manager had been brought in to help with the difficulties of operating in different areas.

Carlton Bolling has been targeted in leaflets distributed throughout the area alleging serious incidents involving Asian and white youngsters at the school.

Assistant director of school effectiveness, Phil Green, said: "This is part of a broader social agenda being played out in North Bradford. We have no doubts about the quality of the school and know it is untrue because of the professional standards here."