COMMUNITY leaders in Southampton have published an open letter calling on Channel 4 to axe controversial documentary Immigration Street.

In it, they voice fears over the impact of the programme, saying it could lead to an increase in racism and violence.

Council leader Simon Letts, MP Alan Whitehead and Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes are among the figures to sign the letter.

Drafted by Southampton Connect, the letter describes the programme - which will focus on residents in the Derby Road area of the city - as “ill named and ill-advised”.

As previously reported the programme, which is being created by the same team behind Benefits Street, has sparked huge opposition from residents and community leaders in the area.

Love Productions says the programme would “fairly and accurately” depict the multicultural nature of the area.

But residents and community leaders have told of fears that it will create racial tension while local doctors have already written to Love Productions saying the programme will “cynically exploit” the vulnerability of some residents.

Now the city's leaders have united to send the open letter to Nick Mirsky, head of documentaries at Channel 4.

In it they say they fear the programme could “set community relations back years and years”.

The letter adds that they are concerned about its timing in the run-up to the General Election next May, continuing: “the issue of immigration will be a controversial topic with the associated risk of attracting extremists and potentially violent reactions to our diverse local communities in and around Derby Road, but also across other parts of Southampton.

“We believe there is potential to directly or indirectly incite racism and therefore a risk to the nresidents, their children and wider community using local faith community buildings and local businesses, as well as a real risk to Southampton's reputation and social cohesion.”

Saying the community in James Turner Street in Birmingham had been left in “disarray” after Benefits Street was filmed there, it ends: “We wholeheartedly support the majority of the local community in its opposition to the making of it.

“Therefore we call on Channel 4 and Love Productions to show their integrity by abandoning the screening of this programme now and to leave local people to resume their lives without this unwarranted and damaging intrusion.”

Council communities chief Satvir Kaur, chairman of the Safe City Partnership Supt James Fulton, Hampshire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stewart Dunn and Jan Goatley, headteacher of Maytree Nursery and Infant School have also signed the letter.