"Why are children in the middle of this?" Anguish of dad whose son, 11, has been targeted for 'speaking Russian'

A dad has described how his son has been bullied for speaking Russian following the war in Ukraine. Michael Belcher's mother-in-law is Ukrainian, and his wife, Oksana, is Latvian.

However Mr Belcher says his 11-year-old son has been targeted and 'called Russian' by other children. He spoke out about the experience after a Russian language school, based out of a primary school in Warrington on Saturday, was forced to close last weekend. A local councillor told the Manchester Evening News the move was forced by 'safeguarding concerns' after the host primary school received 'aggressive letters'.

"We feel if this kind of intolerance and bigotry persisted it would lead to other (Russian) school closures across the UK," Mr Belcher said. "There is an importance of tolerance and respect towards each other, so as to not to make young children feel hated. Why are children in the middle of it all?"

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"We have lots of connections with the Ukraine, we have friends who are trying to get their family over the border," Mr Belcher said of his own family.

"My own son was insulted at school - children calling him Russian and being aggressive against him, when we are crying all the time in our house speaking to relatives in Ukraine who cannot escape yet," Mr Belcher said.

"My son believes 100% he is English and our whole family support Ukraine."

Mr Belcher spoke out after it emerged that a Russian language, history and dance session operating out of St Wilfrid's C of E in Grappenhall, Warrington, had to cancel its meeting last week.

Mr Belcher, who is from Cheshire, has no connection to the school, but defends Russian Saturday schools as part of the culture