Hundreds of people have protested against a government's decision to scrap plans to build an Islamic school in Australia's biggest city, Sydney.

Parents and prospective students have said the decision was unfair and racist.

Islamic groups have insisted that the Muslim community in Australia, which is comparatively young and fast-growing, needs more tailor-made education.

Construction of the school had been due to start this week.

Plans to build an Islamic school for 1,200 students in the Sydney suburb of Bass Hill survived objections from residents, the local council and legal challenges only to be scrapped at the last minute by the New South Wales government.

Construction was due to begin but the state has intervened to buy back the land it sold several years ago.

Busloads of angry parents and their children have demonstrated outside the education department, calling on the authorities to allow the project to go ahead.

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