On Thursday Mr Blunkett will attend a meeting of MPs, police and civic leaders to discuss how to deal with the problems facing the troubled town.

It follows last month's race riots - the worst seen in Britain for 15 years - between gangs of white and Asian youths.

Meanwhile, Mr Blunkett has Home Office staff that the priorities for the coming parliament will be "the three Ds" - "delivery, delivery, and delivery".

The meeting at Oldham, which was set up after local leaders wrote to the prime minister asking for talks, is also likely to discuss the high polling of the British National Party in last week's general election.

'Bigotry'

The far-right party, which has been accused of exploiting racial tensions in the Greater Manchester area, won 16% and 11% of the vote in Oldham's two constituencies.

Labour minister Michael Meacher, who held on to the Oldham West and Royton seat, said the BNP's surprise results had come on the back of "a systematic campaign of violence, intimidation and bigotry which has been perpetrated on the people of Oldham".

Following the riots, Tony Blair said he was "ready and willing" to take a personal interest in Oldham.

At Thursday's meeting Mr Blunkett will be called on to support an independent review of the roles of local police and Oldham Council in improving race relations.