A NEWLY-launched advice and support centre will ensure victims of racial discrimination in Bolton find it easier to get help, its director has pledged.

Bolton Racial Equality Council in Ashburner Street has been designated a centre of excellence. Instead of only being able to offer advice, staff with legal training will now be able to represent complainants in tribunals and county court cases.

The centre, which started with only two staff and provides a free service, now boasts seven and is looking to appoint at least two more using funding from the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE).

As one of five centres of excellence forming the new Northern Race Discrimination Service, it will also handle cases from Bury, Wigan, Oldham and Rochdale.

There are also plans for a regional telephone helpline to offer advice on the Race Relations Act.

Director Zahida Hussain said: "We won't just be advising people but representing them as well. It will be a seamless service. Things have changed a lot from when I started here in 2001."

Speaking at the official launch of the Northern Race Discrimination Service at Manchester's Urbis Centre yesterday, CRE commissioner Kurshid Ahmed said: "Today's launch marks an important step towards helping victims of racial discrimination.

"We are committed to fostering and retaining local expertise in race discrimination law and practice."

It is stressed that the new centre is for all races and not just for ethnic minorities. Irish salesman Gordon Campbell, for example, won a racial discrimination case against Carpet Factors in 2002. He told a tribunal colleagues had called him "leprechaun".