RACIST incidents in Wrexham have dramatically increased since the London bombings.

Police reported 12 racially motivated incidents in the seven days between Thursday, July 7 - the day four suicide bombers attacked London's public transport network - and Thursday, July 14.

According to the most recent figures available between April 2001 and March 2004, the average number of incidents per month was less than six.

Police have tried to distance the rise in race-hate incidents from the London outrage - reminding people there is no link between the bombers and Wrexham's Moslem community.

And ethnic minorities are being urged not to panic as police are focusing on the issue and have arrested people involved in 11 of the latest incidents.

'There has been a noticeable rise in incidents since the terrorist attacks in London,' said a police spokesman.

'But we are not treating them as linked. There is no evidence or suspicion that anyone living in Wrexham has any connection at all to the incidents in London.

'We are urging calm among ethnic minorities in Wrexham and are also appealing to people in the town not to

get involved in racially-motivated incidents. We are alert and are determined to arrest anyone who takes part in any form of race-hate crime - both physical and verbal.'

Wrexham Council leader Aled Roberts and council chaplain Canon Geoffrey Marshall have also appealed for calm in Wrexham after following the reported increase in racial hate crime.

They issued a joint statement saying: 'Wrexham is a thriving town undergoing many physical and cultural changes.

'For many years we have welcomed people from different and diverse countries. Some have travelled to Wales to escape political persecution or wars.

'They have been able to start a new life here - living, working and contributing to the local community. Many now consider Wrexham to be their home where they have settled and brought up their children.

'Our strong economy makes this an attractive place to start a new life and our population continues to grow as NEWI attracts more foreign students, tourists come to enjoy the area and migrant workers are attracted to Wrexham for its employment opportunities.

'We should welcome these changes which can enrich our community and we appeal to all to sustain our long tradition of hospitality and tolerance in the aftermath of last week's tragic events.'