Prayers were offered for people caught up in the Iraq conflict at a service for peace held at Bradford Cathedral yesterday afternoon.

About 40 people, including representatives from Bradford's Christian, Muslim and Sikh communities, attended the short service.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Richard Wightman, and the Lady Mayoress, Elizabeth Wightman, also attended.

The service included prayers from the Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend David James, and the Dean of Bradford Cathedral, the Very Reverend Dr Christopher Hancock.

The Cathedral choir sang two pieces of music composed by John Rutter.

Bishop David gave prayers for those fighting on both sides of the conflict, and for the leaders of the nations involved.

He also prayed for the "rainbow of people living in Bradford" and for the removal of "the fantasies of racial superiority".

The Dean paid tribute to the representatives of Bradford's diverse communities who attended.

"We unite today across the faiths and communities of Bradford to commend to God the situation in Iraq, which affects us all so deeply.

"In particular, we pray for members of the armed services serving there and for Iraqi civilians caught up in this conflict, remembering especially service families and little children.

"We pray too for those on all sides who have power to bring this war to a swift and decisive conclusion and for peace, justice and good order to be restored quickly in Iraq.

"We ask God's blessing on our world where fear, mistrust and aggression are rampant and even those who seek God's blessing are at odds with one another."

l During yesterday's service the Bishop of Bradford named a serviceman, believed to be from the Bradford area, who has been killed in the Iraqi conflict.

Bishop David said: "There have already been fatalities, in the armed forces and among the people of Iraq.

"One such person is Philip, who has lived in this part of the world. He leaves a widow, Helen, a young son, Henry, and a child due in three weeks. He also leaves his parents and a sister."

After the service the Bishop declined to comment further on the serviceman. He is believed to have died in the helicopter crash in Kuwait on Thursday, which killed eight British and four American Marines.

A spokesman for the Ministry for Defence said it has not yet officially released any of the names of servicemen killed in the conflict.