AN Eastleigh school has joined a council led attack on racism.

Alderman Quilley School has become the latest local organisation to sign up to the Eastleigh Against Racial Harassment Declaration.

The brainchild of the Eastleigh Multi-Agency Racial Harassment Forum, the initiative started in 2001 in the wake of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry.

The forum is designed to promote racial equality and harmony across the borough.

With a network of reporting centres, it takes a co-ordinated approach to tackling racial harassment.

Any organisation, school, business or voluntary group can add their signature to the declaration which pledges to eliminate racial harassment in the borough.

The forum was developed by a multi-agency group which includes Eastleigh Council, the police, social services, Eastleigh Citizens Advice Bureau, Eastleigh & Test Valley Primary Care Trust, Hampshire Fire and Rescue, Swaythling Housing Society, Eastleigh Community Services, Hyde Housing Association, Eastleigh Housing Association, Hampshire County Council and South West Hampshire Health Authority.

Eastleigh Community Action Group chairman councillor Peter Wall said: "This is a practical demonstration of the importance those who make up the Eastleigh Forum place on tackling this form of hate crime." For further information contact 023 8068 8196.