A SCHOOL which called in police after 'racial fighting' has recruited a tattoo-covered motivational speaker to remind children to be nice to each other.

Blakewater College, Shadsworth Road, Blackburn, was the scene of what police described as a brawl between 11 pupils from two rival gangs last month.

Teachers intervened and split the pupils up, segregating those involved into two classrooms and a teenage girl had to be sent home with a cut ear.

Now it has been revealed that the school, which replaced Queen's Park Technology College this year after it achieved some of the worst GCSE results in the country, called in an American to spread the message of peace.

Known as The Scary Guy, Earl Kaufmann has promoted anti-bullying messages to over five million children worldwide.

He uses his frightening features which include blue hair and a tattoo covered face to get pupils' attention.

During his trip to Blakewater College, the former Arizona tattooist spoke to the whole school on issues ranging from harnessing greater tolerance to accepting each other for who they are.

The school stressed the talk by the 20-stone speaker, known only as The Scary Guy, was arranged before the fighting, which deputy head Debbie Ball described as a "minor kerfuffle".

And Miss Ball said the American's anti-bullying message complimented the school's citizenship programme, which encourages pupils to be good role models.

"He came to speak to the whole school on prejudice, tolerance, love and acceptance of each other. It's about people being nicer to each other. It has been planned for some time as part of our citizenship programme."

His appearance at Blakewater came 24 hours after he visited Southlands High School, Chorley, and was due to be followed by a day-long session with 700 pupils at Colne Primet High School today.

Delighted headteacher of the Colne school, Janet Walsh said: "Hopefully his visit will help raise children's self-esteem and by grabbing their attention encourage them not to judge people on just their physical appearance."