Bradford is failing its asylum seekers, the Bishop of Bradford has warned.

The Right Reverend David James, speaking at a conference yesterday, claimed that the city is doing far too little to aid asylum seekers looking for refuge in Bradford.

"It is a tragedy that we seem to be failing our most vulnerable members of society," he said. "Many asylum seekers and refugees arrive in Bradford having suffered atrocities beyond our comprehension and are often still psychologically traumatised by their experience. At the moment help and advice is limited in Bradford and many remain isolated and fearful."

The conference held at the Thornbury Centre, Leeds Old Road, was organised by the diocese of Bradford, St Margaret's Church, Thornbury, the Refugee Council, West Yorkshire Police, Bradford Vision, Bradford Council and Bradford Action for Refugees, to address issues faced by asylum seekers and refugees living in Bradford.

"We need to find a simple and effective solution to meet the needs of asylum seekers and refugees living in our city," said Bishop David. "After all today's immigrants are tomorrow's local Bradford residents." The conference identified the need for a resource centre in Bradford set up specifically to deal with problems faced by asylum seekers and refugees.

"Part of the problem asylum seekers and refugees in Bradford face is that they don't know where to go for information. A one-stop shop offering all the services they require would combat this and make their lives much easier," said Hana Fazal, of the Refugee Council.

"Other cities in the UK such as Leeds are far better equipped to deal with asylum seekers and refugees and Bradford needs to follow suit."

Among those in attendance was Beatrice, not her real name, an asylum seeker from Burundi. Beatrice, 30, came to Bradford two years ago with her four-year-old son after her parents were slashed to death with a machete by Government officials because her father was the head of the region's opposition party.

Had she not managed to flee the country she is certain she would have suffered the same fate.

"On arriving in England I was dispersed to Bradford and into the care of the local authority," she told the conference. "I felt completely isolated. As a refugee I couldn't get a national insurance number so I couldn't work to feed myself and my son. Months later I still don't have one and for a long time I didn't know where to turn for help."

Beatrice now works for an African community group in an attempt to help other refugees facing the same problems.

"The problems faced are always basic, for example the language barrier, not knowing how to get hold of a solicitor, not being able to register with a doctor because many GPs won't accept asylum seekers onto their books and employers unwilling to take on highly qualified refugees," she said.

Also speaking at the conference was Jim Johnson, head of Bradford Action for Refugees,who said: "My organisation has limited funding and is not in a position to offer the sort of advice and help that is needed."