The opposing positions of Croydon Council and various ethnic minority groups over the future of the town's race equality organisation seem more polarised than ever after two meetings last week.

At the first special consultation meeting arranged by the council last Monday, 15 of the assembled 18 ethnic minority residents walked out amid uproar.

Then at a second meeting three days later residents showed "united opposition" to the council's proposals for a new independent organisation to tackle race discrimination in the borough.

Both meetings were called by the council to discuss its plans for a tendered service to provide race equality work in the void left by the suspension of the Croydon Race Equality Council (CREC) four years ago.

Errol Harry, of the campaign to re-establish the CREC, said after the second meeting: "A show of hands revealed that no-one in the room supported the council."

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