Bradford's Lord Mayor elect has vowed that the first anniversary of the riots will be a celebration of cultural diversity - as his civic service takes place that day.

Richard Wightman will be welcomed by the city on July 7 at a service in Bradford Cathedral and a parade through the city.

And the Lord Mayor elect, who is installed this month, knows his role in leading the city will continue work to build bridges in the multi-cultural community.

Councillor Wightman said: "I am very happy that as many good things should happen on that day as possible. It was exactly a year to the day since the riots and there is a lot to remember and a lot of lessons to be learnt and things to celebrate. It is a time for making resolutions, a time for reflection and a time for remembering that Bradfordians have more in common than we have separating us - and we will celebrate unity in diversity.''

The service, which happens to fall on that day, is expected take a theme of community harmony and cohesion. It finishes at noon and in the afternoon, plans are well under way for an interfaith peace procession, to make a positive statement about the real strengths of the area.

Residents of Manningham have pledged their commitment to the Steps For Peace event and formed an executive committee to organise the march along the route taken by the rioters.

The plan is to bring together each section of the community in the parade and invite victims of the violence back to receive peace garlands.

Ishtiaq Ahmed, general secretary of the Council for Mosques, said: "We must get this in proportion - we have had two bad weekends over the last ten years!

"This is an opportunity for us to demonstrate the positive energy that exists in Manningham.''

Sharmila Gandhi, chief executive of Bradford Vision, which is backing the event, said: "It is about everybody having a good time, families enjoying it and the whole district coming together to show we have a peaceful place.''