The Roma community is being discriminated against by schools, health workers and social services, warns a leading Manchester academic.

Professor Yaron Matras of the University of Manchester says that the persisting prejudice against the Roma families needs to be tackled in Manchester.

His comments come as the university and Manchester council launch a new project to give the Roma ‘a voice’ and help them access to services.

It is hoped the project will help change the public’s negative attitude towards Roma migrants.

Professor Matras, one of the project co-ordinators, said: “There are big issues of segregation and prejudice within schools.

“This is also a problem in health and social care where Roma families are often accused of neglecting their children.

“However, there are very few cases where there has been a serious case of neglect, yet there are cases of Romani children being wrongly taken into emergency foster care.

“This is an issue that really needs to be tackled.”

The team behind the new project have set up a community group with Manchester’s Roma to provide advice and support.

Professor Matras added: “Unlike other immigrant and ethnic minority communities, the Roma have so far lacked community representation.

“The main aim of our outreach work is to release Roma from being dependent on others and to encourage self-reliance.

The Big Life Group and the university’s Romani Project are involved with the project, funded by the European Commission.

It is also supported by the European Roma and Travellers Forum, an organisation that represents the Roma at the Council of Europe.

Ramona Constantin, one of the group’s founders, said: “We have many young people in our community who are talented and motivated.

"One of our goals is to help them identify opportunities to develop their skills.”

Afzal Khan MEP added: “The Roma are Europe’s largest minority.

"They continue to suffer exclusion and discrimination. The community group is an excellent initiative.

“It will help make Manchester a model for the integration and participation of Roma in the European Union.”