POLLOKSHIELDS is starting to rebuild its community spirit in the aftermath of the Kriss Donald trial and with three men now beginning their prison sentences.

The area is seeking to make sure those from all ethnic backgrounds work together to dispel the myths and build bridges.

While much of the focus may have been on racial tension in the area, local Muslims say the problems have been exaggerated. They say the real problem is gang culture, which affects the whole of Scotland.

Ali Ashraf, 22, an IT student, said: "Pollokshields is a great place to live. There are many positive things about it.

"There is gang culture in every area in Scotland. If you look at the east end of Glasgow, that is filled with schemes with different gangs. There is nowhere for youths to go. The only option is to go on to the streets, then they get labelled as gangs."

One 29-year-old man, who would only give his name as Ali, added: "There is no mafia here. It is just boys hanging about on the streets. If you go to any part of Glasgow you'll see worse.

"I love living in Pollokshields and we all get on with all the communities living here."

Umar Ansari, co-ordinator of Youth Counselling Services Agency, works with young people from ethnic minorities in the area. He said: "It is a very diverse community with excellent mix of both culture and age. It is a very tight network of people.

"People are quite happy with the judgment that has come out and the sentencing and they are glad that people have been brought to account for what happened. It doesn't bring back Kriss but I hope there is some form of closure.

"No-one thinks they should have got away with it and some have even said that the sentences weren't long enough. I hope people can build bridges and we can work together to understand communities rather than having divides between the communities.

"I'm hoping that there isn't any violence, and I really don't think there will be. There is a concern that white people from other areas will begin to target Asian communities because of this. We wouldn't want that. But if there was going to be a lot of hatred it would have happened before now.

"From the young people we engage with on a daily basis to the community we work with, everyone has the same feeling that there is some form of closure."

For young Muslims and community leaders, one person has shown their strength of leadership - Angela Donald. She has refused to blame race as a major factor in her son's death and even appealed for restraint in the community to avert any retaliatory racial violence after the murder.

Her dignified response is one which many say has set an example for how the community can move on from the horrific events.

One 20-year-old man, who only gave his name as Mahmood, said he grew up with Kriss and would see him every day. He said: "Kriss's mother deserves the most credit. She has played a big part. She's been a great example."

Imran Azam, journalist with The iWitness, Scotland's Muslim newspaper, added: "The BNP did try to exploit the issue for their own political needs but you have to commend Angela's dignified response to it all. You have got to take your hat off to her."

DESPITE the optimism, others paint a different picture - of a community which still faces its problems. When the Rev Paul Jupp left Pollokshields on Thursday, having spent the day organising local youth work, a group of Asian boys hurled abuse at him. "The young kids shouted Baldy at me, " he said.

"It is not because of my hair but because Baldy has already become like a local bogeyman. They were saying that Baldy was going to get me." Baldy is the street name for Imran Shahid, the man now facing at least 25 years in prison for the murder of the innocent teenager.

"The community police and others are trying so hard but they are getting very little support, " said Mr Jupp of the United Free Church. "The problems are more to do with young people than race or religion. From the age of nine young boys join gangs and create ghettos in the area. Even the new football project is becoming ghetto-ised.

"It is ghetto-isation, but the council would deny that, " he added. "Youth disorder is a very big problem here. But the council and other agencies need to tackle the root of the problems with more investment rather than just firefighting after things go wrong."

On Kenmure Street where Kriss was abducted, a plaque with a picture of the teenager has been surrounded by bouquets of flowers as residents express their emotions following the trial.

One message written on the Pakistani flag, said: "Kriss, you will always be in our prayers. Guilty Guilty Guilty. Sorry from the whole Muslim community. RIP. Let them rot in jail."

Alongside it sits a Saltire with a message from Jamie Wallace, who was with Kriss when he was abducted. It said: "Krytpo, If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you back again. Best mates. Jamie Wallace."

Mohammad Sarwar MP, who organised the extradition of the three killers from Pakistan to Scotland, has returned to Lahore to thank officials there for their assistance.

He remains optimistic that Pollokshields will find a way to move on from the murder. He said: "Obviously it was a very difficult time after this very vicious murder and feelings were running very high, but all the communities pulled together in their condemnation against the people who killed this young man.

"All the communities are united. There is a lot of optimism. We can work together and build on this now."