A senior churchman told a packed Bradford Cathedral that last year's rioters were responsible for their own actions and had to face their punishment.

Canon Derek Jackson made the comments in his sermon at yesterday's service to mark the election to office of the new Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Richard Wightman, pictured during the ceremony.

He said: "This is the anniversary of the Saturday afternoon when the city was devastated by the outbreak of violence.

"The reaction of the vast majority of our peace-loving citizens was of profound shock.

"Those that engaged in this behaviour would have to accept the responsibility for their actions.

"The publication of mugshots produced an amazing response.

"Those found guilty of those actions have to face the punishment that was consequent on them."

He added: "The chaos was symptomatic of the confusion which abounds in situations where there is a lack of understanding growing out of prejudice or ignorance, or impatience or fear," he said.

"The progression is chaos, confusion, fear, violence."

Mr Jackson urged the congregation to learn to live with each other again in harmony and acknowledged that Bradford's different communities were engaged in many projects to help pull them together.

The Lord Mayor was joined by many civic dignitaries, some from neighbouring councils.

They marched from Cen-tenary Square to the Cathedral.

There, the Lord Mayor's mace and sword were placed on the altar and the National Anthem was sung.

The Yorkshire Building Society Concert Band play-ed between prayers and readings.

A collection was made for the Lord Mayor's charity, Candlelighters, an organisation dedicated to children with cancer.

After the service, the procession paraded back along the streets of the city to the square, saluting the Lord Mayor as they marched past.