A STREET where residents and asylum seekers have clashed violently in recent weeks is to get a limit on the number of foreigners moving in.

Bolton Council has agreed to allow no more than five homes in Varley Road, Deane, to be used to house asylum seekers.

Earlier this week, the BEN revealed how an Iraqi asylum seeker living in the street was in hiding after attacks on him by residents.

But people in the street claim they have also been the victim of attacks and sexual comments by asylum seekers.

At a meeting in the Eldercroft Community Centre, Deane, last night the council's housing access and advice manager, John Lord, agreed to impose a limit on asylum seekers in the street.

He said the meeting -- which the BEN was banned from attending -- was often heated but he was optimistic it would achieve positive results.

He added: "We have agreed to cap the number of houses on the street given to asylum seekers to its present level of five.

Family

"We will also do our best to ensure that only families of asylum seekers move into the street in future, because it is a family street.

"We will also be meeting with the asylum seekers on the street before the weekend to discuss their situation.

"And we will try to build bridges between the two communities in the meantime."

PC Brian Towler, community beat officer for Middle Hulton, said he thought communication between the residents and the police will be crucial if the situation is to improve.

Karen Brooks, a resident of Varley Road, said: "We will have to wait and see what happens now.

"We are not racists but people are angry that they think this street is becoming a dumping ground. Something has got to be done to improve things."

Another meeting between residents and the council is planned for two weeks time.

Meanwhile Tory hopeful James Stevens has condemned the attacks on the asylum seeker as "totally unacceptable".

The candidate for Bolton West, which covers Varley Road, said: "Bolton is one of the most genuinely multicultural towns one could ever hope to visit.

"Local residents span the whole global family of cultures and nations and people are proud to speak of themselves as hailing from Bolton whatever their cultural or ethnic background.

"The vast majority of local people are decent and tolerant and will join me in condemning racially motivated attacks of any sort."