A group of Bradford Christians boldly ventured into no-go zones in Sudan on a diocesan link mission.

Sudan, where Osama bin Laden lived before moving to Afghanistan, is on the US hit list of terrorist enclaves.

Arabic Muslims and African Christians who live there are deadly enemies and a long-raging civil war makes parts of the country out of bounds.

But regardless of Foreign Office warnings, Bradford vicar the Reverend Denise Poole, the Venerable Malcolm Grundy, Archdeacon of Craven, Chris Wright, IT worker and world church links officer, Bridget Rees, travelled to Sudan, to firm up relationships and fix computers.

Mrs Rees said: "We are trying to help both sides understand each other. They find it difficult to understand that Christians and Muslim live together here. They know they can't hate their enemy, but they have been persecuted, had their churches pulled down and relatives killed in front of them. It is not easy."

Bridget saw the squalor and poverty of the Christians, who fled the south to live in shanty towns around the capital.

About two million people live in Khartoum, mostly with no running water or electricity. In desert conditions, women try to make a living either by illegally brewing alcohol or selling tea on the streets.

"They scratch a living from what they can - it is hard to imagine," Mrs Rees said. "But they are so resilient. These people suffer so much and yet are so cheerful."

Bradford's churches have raised thousands to set up self-funding projects, such as a cafeteria.

Banners from All Saints Church in Ilkley were seen in one church and the group met Lucy Atkins, from Ilkley, who was teaching an English class.

IT adviser Chris Wright improved Khartoum diocese's computers, their main link with Bradford, despite frequent power cuts. The others suffered a 30-hour journey squashed on a hot bus to the Nuba Mountains in Kadugli for the enthronement of the Bishop of Kadugli, Andudu Adam Elnial. On January 4, Bishop Andudu, 32, had annointed Bradford's Bishop David James at his service of welcome in Bradford. Bishop David sent blessings and gifts for his counterpart's official enthronement.

Throughout the journey, travellers were stopped at frequent checkpoints.

Mrs Rees, 59, said: "We could see the effects of the war; buildings had been demolished.

"The Foreign Office recommends against travelling there, but we weren't scared because we were in good hands and had permission from the Sudanese Government. But we had to be careful."

Since September 11, Sudan has made an effort to be a more open country. Even the US, which has no embassy there, is beginning to forge contacts.