Riot town 'facing disaster'

The Asian deputy mayor's house was petrol-bombed

Oldham could witness a "difficult summer" according to the town's Asian deputy mayor, whose house was firebombed in the street violence that erupted over the May bank holiday weekend.

Riaz Ahmad, deputy mayor of the Greater Manchester town, and his wife Safia and their four children escaped when a petrol bomb was thrown in the early morning attack.

Mr Ahmad, who has been hiding since the attack, said the riots had been caused by a number of ingredients which led to "a recipe for disaster".

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "Disaster is what we are facing at the moment.

"Oldham is at a low point and we need to do something to bring morale up.

"I think the summer months are going to be difficult.

Community effort

"All I can say if we all work together we are going to get over the difficult summer months.

"We are in for a difficult period for a number of months to come at least."

Riaz Ahmad: Oldham is at l low point

Police said the attack on Mr Ahmad's house was racially motivated.

Last week, Home Office minister Barbara Roche said rebuilding trust between the community, the police and the local authority would probably be a "long process".

A number of people have been charged in connection with disturbances in the town over the May bank holiday weekend.

The rioting was apparently sparked by an argument between two teenagers outside a takeaway although police also blamed far-right activists for stirring up conflict.