The report's author, Ted Cantle, who led the initial Home Office investigation, said the "mindset of deeply entrenched communities" had prevented greater progress.

Mr Phillips warned that racial tensions could spill over anywhere unless lessons were learned.

"In many cities and some small towns, immigrant communities are changing the landscape, and some people are anxious about this, and the way they respond is sometimes governed by what the far right will do, because they will exploit it.

"So, anywhere in this country it is possible that we might see what happened in Oldham once again."