New investment will see 22,000 local authority staff receive race equality training across Liverpool City Region.

Metro mayor Steve Rotheram has announced £3.2m funding to create a Race Equality Hub to target employment inequalities and remove barriers in the labour market.

It will focus on training, employment support and business assistance for people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.

The funding will also see 22,000 local authority and combined authority staff receive race equality training.

Mayor Rotheram said: 'Through the Race Equality Programme we launched last year, we are taking practical, proactive and positive action to level the playing field and overcome bigotry and discrimination.

'I want to work with the communities most affected by racial inequality to create a Race Equality Hub designed around their needs and priorities. With their support, I want to see this hub lead on removing barriers to success and become a beacon of good practice for the rest of the country to follow.'

It is estimated that addressing race inequalities could add around £300m to the Liverpool City Region economy each year.