Keighley's leading race relations campaigner has urged Bradford council to make better efforts to employ more Asian teenagers.

Zafar Ali made the comments as the council announced new measures to improve its equal rights policies.

Councillors want to ensure all local people have the same access to services regardless of race, disability, gender, age or sexual orientation.

They hope to break down barriers, whether physical or social, that stop some people playing a full part in the life of the community.

The council will adopt the concept of 'inclusion' which calls for equal access to services, job opportunities and involvement in local decision making. It will make one of its directors responsible for equal rights and hold every council employee individually accountable for carrying out the new policies.

Councillors believe they have already improved their equal rights record in the fields of employment and training. They now feel the same effort must be applied to the way they provides services it provides to the public.

Zafar Ali, Keighley's Race Equality Council officer, welcomes the new measures but says the council still has much to learn.

He calls for action to increase the number of Asian youngsters working in local offices of departments such as education and social services.

"It's not working effectively at the moment. We're concerned about youth unemployment in the Asian community in Keighley.

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