Police in Bradford are taking evening classes in conversational Urdu in an effort to break down local language barriers.

Two dozen officers and support staff at Toller Lane police division have signed up to the 30-week course which will give them a basic grasp of key phrases.

The course, run by staff at Bradford and Ilkley Community College, costs £150 per person and is being paid for out of the division's own budget.

Recruitment of Asian officers in Bradford is still falling short of tough Home Office targets and boosting the number of ethnic minority officers on the beat remains a priority.

But one Asian community leader today welcomed the extra effort being made by English-speaking staff to improve relations as "...another positive step in the right direction".

Rashid Awan, joint chairman of the Bradford and District Minority Ethnic Communities Police Liaison Committee, said: "Language is a barrier, there's no doubt about that, particularly among the Asian elders.

"It becomes a disadvantage for both the police and the community not to be able to talk to each other.

"In an ideal world we want to increase the number of Asian officers working in Bradford. But at the same time it will be an advantage for English officers to know a little Urdu - officers are there to serve all communities."

Divisional training officer PC Ross McGhie is in charge of the initiative. The once-a-week two-hour evening class is equivalent to an NVQ level One qualification.

He said: "It will allow us to communicate better with Urdu-speaking members of the community and break down the barriers.

"We've just started the course and are still finding it difficult - but we have an understanding tutor! Some of the staff are already talking about doing follow-up courses."

Although officers have access to interpreters the aim of the course is to learn simple phrases to introduce themselves and give a reason for their visit.

Toller Lane community and race relations officer, Sergeant Roy Wensley, said: "If you are going to a house where the occupant has limited English it's useful to be able to say who you are and what you want.

"With a few key phrases officers can also fix up an appointment to see someone else later. If there is an ageing population with a limited amount of English they will, to some degree, become isolated.

"Being able to introduce yourself, say where you are from, who you want to see and understand what is being said back to you will make a difference."