Former international rugby league star Ikram Butt has been profiled in a pioneering book which aims to highlight black and Asian role models.

Bradford-based Ikram made his name as the first, and so far only, Asian to play for England.

Information about his life and significant sporting achievements feature prominently in Did You Know?, a new reference book published by Huddersfield-based Primary Colours.

It profiles five living and ten dead black and Asian role models and is aimed at children aged nine to 13.

Ikram, now retired from professional sport, currently helps develop sporting initiatives within the Bradford district as a community sports and development officer with Bradford Council.

The former Leeds, Featherstone and Huddersfield winger said: "I am overwhelmed to be recognised and featured in this inspirational book.

"With knowledge and education we can overcome ignorance, prejudice and the religious and cultural intolerance that divides and estranges our communities."

Since retiring from frontline rugby, Ikram has campaigned for increased sporting provision in all communities.

He helped launch the Asians In Football Forum last year and has also played for the British Asian rugby league side.

He said: "I was fortunate because my father was sporty. He was a boxer so I think that's where we got our sporting genes.

"I would like to see a sporting society which reflects communities living in England today."

Ikram believes more black and Asian role models are needed to show young people that representatives from those communities have achieved success.

"Role models can help with harmonising community relations throughout the UK," he said.

"But we need to bang the drum a bit more and let people know more about Black and Asian people who have achieved."

Primary Colours editor, Bradford-born Marcia Hutchinson, said Ikram had been profiled because of his unique sporting success.

She said: "The book has been written for primary school children.

"Teachers told us they want to tell their pupils about the achievements of people from diverse communities but the resources are not out there to help them. It's important for all children to learn more about this."

The book, by Huddersfield-based writer Shazia Azhar, was launched at a House of Lords reception.

It also features Britain's first Muslim peer, Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham, Huddersfield school inspector and champion kickboxer Lance Lewis, chairman of the British Council's art advisory committee Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey, and Bushra Ahmed, the Manchester-born founder of the Joe Bloggs jeans line.

Pete Tidy, a teacher at Queensbury's Russell Hall Primary School, also helped put the book together.

He said: "We've made it lively and colourful and given the book a time-travelling guide.

"There are also lots of teachers' notes and web links."

e-mail: dan.webber@bradford.newsquest.co.uk