BOLTON supports 1,012 asylum seekers, more than any other town in the UK.

Only five major cities support more asylum seekers who account for 0.36 per cent of the borough's population.

Council leader Linda Thomas said these figures are disproportionately high but blames the allocation system which is run by a private contractor.

She said: “The current asylum seeker allocation system needs significant reform. The allocation of asylum seekers across the country is determined by the Home Office, who have sub-contracted this to Serco. As a result, we have no control over how many people Serco place in Bolton."

Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Police confirmed an increase in reports of hate crime across Bolton over the last few years.

Tory leader David Greenhalgh has suggested this rise may be linked to the "disproportionately high number" of asylum seekers the borough has welcomed.

He said: "The rise in hate crime is hugely regrettable, and unacceptable, but the whole issue could have been handled so much better. It is right that we offer a safe haven for those fleeing persecution, but Bolton Labour should never have allowed our town, year on year, to take such a disproportionately high number of asylum seekers, a third of the whole country's allocation in one year."

He blamed the "huge pressure" on services for creating resentment from residents who feel overlooked with new arrivals given preference, describing this as a "ticking time bomb".

The comments comes after a Breightmet man was sentenced for a racially aggravated attack on a refugee family, leaving a mother needing brain surgery.

He added: "It would now appear that this resentment has led to violence."

Bolton council leader Linda Thomas condemned the incident but warned of scaremongering attempts being made to divide communities.

The increase in reports of hate crime is partly down to increased confidence in victims coming forward and changes to the way such crimes are recorded, according to GMP.

Chief Inspector Chris Bridge said: “Tackling hate in our communities must be a priority for us all. Over the last 12 months 52 reports for a racially motivated hate crime have resulted in a charge, summons, restorative justice, other community resolution or caution in Bolton.

"However, we cannot tackle this alone and we remain committed to working closely with partners and communities to build a confident and cohesive community."

Anyone can report a hate crime via LiveChat on the GMP website or by calling 101.