A councillor has spoken about a terrifying experience in which racist thugs chased afterhim and his family more than 40 years ago.

North Manor Cllr Khalid Hussain, who has been nominated to be the borough's next deputy mayor, moved from Radcliffe to Horne Street in Bury with his family back in 1979.

While he and his family were out one day they were close to being attacked by a "group of hooligans".

Speaking at a full council meeting, he said: “When my family moved from Radcliffe in 1979, I was about nine years old and me and my brother who was about seven years old, we used to live on Horne Street near Gigg Lane.

“We left our home on the weekend to go shopping and we crossed over Parkhills Road, and a gang of racist thugs began to chase us.

“My father was a heavy man and I’ve never seen my father run so fast.

“This group of hooligans chased after us and we managed to escape by somehow getting into the Bury College grounds.

“The hooligans picked up rocks and threw them at us, luckily none of them hit us but my father had my younger brother’s hand, and we basically ran for our lives.

“That incident in 1979 has always stuck with me and since then, whether consciously or subconsciously, I think my fate was secured in a sense that I will always fight for human rights.

"I will always fight for a greater understanding between different communities and bring about greater tolerance in our community.”

The Conservative councillor was speaking at the meeting after fellow representatives welcomed nominations for him to be the next deputy mayor.

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Borough Tories leader, Cllr Russell Bernstein, also offered his recommendation for Cllr Hussain and provided details of important contributions he has made to the community in his life.

He said Cllr Hussain’s father moved from Pakistan to England in 1964 and worked as a labourer for more than three decades.

He also said Cllr Hussain became the first person in his family to go to university.

Cllr Bernstein said: “In 2003, Khalid was appointed by HM Queen as a justice of the peace.

“In the summer of 2004, Khalid became the first Muslim in the history of Bury to be elected as a Conservative councillor.

“In 2005, he became the first Muslim in Bury to stand for Parliament.

“I want to share three very brief examples which I believe epitomise Khalid.

“The first was in 2000 when Khalid in his position as director of Bury Racial Equality Council worked tirelessly to bring justice for the family of Tariq Javed, a private hire taxi driver who was brutally murdered in a racially motivated attack in the town.

“The second was again as director when Khalid stood up for the rights of the Jewish community by publicly denouncing the religious extremists who desecrated Jewish graves in Prestwich.

“Finally on Christmas Day in 2021, Khalid on behalf of Bury Parish Church delivered food parcels to the elderly and disabled.

“Khalid as a leader as indicated, is a valuable and respected member of this council and a very worthy nomination for deputy mayor.”

Council leader, Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, added: “It gives me great pleasure to propose the nomination for councillor Hussain to be our next deputy mayor.

“I think we all know Cllr Hussain’s commitment to his residents, this council and his long service is a sign of that.

“I think he will do a fantastic job in the seat and congratulations again to him.

“I’m sure he’s very proud and I hope he sees it for a just reward for his time and effort and his commitment to the residents not just of North Manor but for the entire borough.”

Cllr Hussain thanked his fellow councillors for their kind words.

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