The course is offered to pupils across Nottingham

Around 1,600 youngsters have completed a programme at more than 20 schools across Nottingham.

The importance of the scheme has been highlighted after police in the East Midlands said racially-motivated crime was on the increase, including attacks in small villages and towns.

In one case in Lincolnshire, three youths were jailed for a racist attack on a British Asian family.

Brick attack

A gang of youths threw bricks and ripped down a fence in an attack that was caught on CCTV at the family's home near Lincoln.

On Wednesday, 26 children from Nottingham graduated with honours from their six-week race and cultural awareness course.

BATTLING RACISM We will not tolerate any kind of hate crime and will investigate it very seriously Tony Dennis Nottinghamshire Police

"It doesn't matter what colour you are, it's what's inside that counts," one boy who followed the course said.

The course aims to make sure children are aware of what racism is before they leave primary school.

Nottinghamshire Police spokesman Tony Dennis said: "The children are learning about different races and cultures and we hope this will have a positive impact on them.