Four Asian men convicted of taking part in the 2001 Bradford riots have had their sentences reduced at the Appeal Court in London.

The sentences of a further 11 men were left unchanged at the end of the two-day hearing.

Protestors had claimed the sentences of up to eight years were longer than those handed out to white men involved in a second disturbance.

The men, all from Bradford, were appealing against the length of the sentences handed out by the Honorary Recorder of Bradford, Judge Stephen Gullick, in the wake of the July 2001 riots.

Michael Mansfield QC, representing the men, told the Appeal Court yesterday that the defence accepted the riot was serious but claimed the sentences should have been limited to around three years.

He told Lord Justice Rose, Mr Justice Aikens and Mr Justice Mackay that the sentences of up to eight years in jail were disproportionate to those handed out to white youngsters. He said many of the defendants had thrown just one or two stones.

But Lord Justice Rose said he was satisfied the trial judges had followed appropriate guidelines.

Of the four men whose appeals succeeded, two had their sentences cut from four years to three; one from four years to two; and one from two years, nine months to two years.

A full report from the Appeal Court will appear in Friday's Telegraph & Argus.