Community organisations and politicians must work together to revive inner-city areas such as Lozells, Conservative leadership contender David Cameron said today.

Mr Cameron launched the next stage of his campaign to lead the Tory Party in Birmingham yesterday.

He met figures from local communities including Pastor Michael Royal of the Birmingham Street Pastors, who was on the streets of Lozells on Saturday night trying to reduce tensions.

Mr Cameron praised Birmingham as "a world-class city".

But writing in today's Birmingham Post, he said: "As the events in Lozells have sadly shown, there are still major challenges and tensions that must be tackled before Birmingham is truly a city that is at ease with itself."

Mr Cameron, the shadow Education Secretary, chose Birmingham to highlight his belief that the Tories must be a party "for optimism and for hope" in the inner-cities.

He said: "What happened in Lozells this weekend should make all of us more determined than ever to pursue the goal of community revival and cohesion."

Find out more: