NEW figures show a staggering 772 per cent increase in the number of reported racial incidents in Redditch over a two-year period, writes Becky Procter.

From April 1, 1998, to March 31, 1999, there were just 25 reported cases but from April last year to the end of this March, there were 193.

The huge rise in reported cases has been put down to the creation of a number of designated reporting centres last year.

The figures, which came from an audit by Redditch Community Safety Partnership, prompted talks on strategies to tackle the problems.