ETHNIC minority pupils could suffer because of cuts in language classes to help them learn alongside native English speakers.

Bury Council says it is unable to meet the shortfall caused by a cut in Government grant to the Curriculum and Language Access Service (CLAS) - and is also reducing its own contribution by the same amount.

CLAS supports pupils whose first language is not English, and helps youngsters who speak one of 30 tongues from Russian and Czech to Tagalog (from the Philippines) and Ndebele (Zimbabwe).

The number of ethnic minority pupils taught in Bury has increased from 1,597 in 1992/93 to 4,024 in 203/04 - some 14 per cent of the school roll - with 1,500 supported by CLAS.

Officers say that the service offered by CLAS has led to a direct improvement in exam results. Figures for 2004 show that, at Key Stage 2, the performance of Pakistani heritage pupils improved by 9.4 per cent in English, 10.7 per cent in maths, and 0.8 per cent in science. At Key Stage 4, 58 per cent of ethnic minority pupils achieved five or more A*-C grades.

Ethnic minority pupils have performed above the borough average for the past three years.

The service is currently funded to the tune of £487,320, with both Bury and the Government contributing £243,660.

From April, the Government is cutting its share to £195,037, and to £170,178 in the following two years.

Bury says it has to reduce its contribution by the same amount "with regret", blaming it squarely on a disappointing 2005/06 budget settlement from the Government.

The cuts mean that the number of CLAS teachers will be reduced.