The Bishop of Bradford today joined in the Church of England's strongest criticism yet of Tony Blair's plans for military action in Iraq.

The Right Reverend David James has backed a statement from the House of Bishops which has condemned the impending strikes on Iraq was made.

Bishop David will also take part in a peace rally in Bradford on Saturday which is expected to attract more than 1,000 demonstrators.

In the statement, made at a meeting in Leeds, the Bishops said that without compelling new evidence, a war could not be "morally justified".

"We do not believe that the evidence presented to date suggests a clear link exists between Iraq and al Qaida or that Iraq poses an immediate threat to international security," the statement said.

Bishop David was not available to comment today but the Dean of Bradford Cathedral, the Very Reverend Dr Christopher Hancock, said: "The Bishops are surely right that 'to launch military action while there remains the potential to secure a peaceful resolution would be ill-judged and premature'.

"Bradford Cathedral joins with millions around the world who are praying that war against Iraq be avoided."

Saturday's protests in Bradford start at Lister Park from where people will march to Centenary Square.

The event, organised by Yorkshire CND and the Bradford Stop the War coalition, begins at noon. Speakers include chairman of the parliamentary anti-war group MP Alan Simpson and Anis Tikriti, of the Muslim Association of Britain.

A peace vigil at 3pm will be introduced by the Rev Geoff Reid. Representatives from different religions will say a prayer and place a symbol of their faith beside the Stop the War banner.

Lesley McGorrigan, chairman of Bradford's Stop the War Coalition, said: "Everyone who wants the world to be a safer place should join the protests against war."

A war with Iraq would divide communities in British cities like Bradford, said an executive committee member of Britain's biggest Muslim organisation.

Ayub Laher, of the Muslim Council of Britain, who lives in Bradford Moor, made the comment after the organisation wrote to Mr Blair expressing concern at what war with Iraq would do to Britain's economic and community relations.

The letter to Mr Blair from the Muslim Council secretary-general Iqbal Sacranie warned Tony Blair that a war would cause lasting damage to US relations with the Muslim world.

Mr Laher said: "We are asking people to take it easy but keep up the peaceful pressure and try to persuade the Government that all out war is not the answer."