SIR - Bary Malik is right to describe the Asian arsonists who tried to burn a church in Girlington as un-Islamic. I would direct the attention of these young idiots to sura v.82-85 of the Holy Koran, which describes Christians as "nearest among them" Muslims "in love", promising them the reward of "Gardens, with rivers flowing underneath, their eternal home. Such is the recompense of those who do good."

Remember, "To each is a goal to which Allah turns him." (s. ii, 148).

Furthermore, it also written (of those who preceded the Messenger of Allah): "They shall reap the fruit of what they did, and ye of what they do!" (s.ii, 141). Read, and beware.

It is to be hoped that our brothers and sisters of Islam will instruct and discipline their errant youth, and band together to protect all holy places from thugs and yobs of whatever creed or race.

Karl Dallas, Church Green, Bradford 8.

SIR - While the vast majority of tolerant, law-abiding people were celebrating the capture and execution of a 17th Century Catholic terrorist (Guy Fawkes Night), a group of about 50 Muslim terrorists torched a Christian church and attacked and racially abused the unfortunate vicar.

Instead of wholesale outrage by the Christian community and the vigorous hunting-down of these thugs for such a cowardly attack on a defenceless man of the cloth as well as the established Church of this nation, we will no doubt have the usual hand-wringing from all sides as they fall over themselves to say that the attackers were not real followers of Islam, which is a religion of compassion and peace etc.

The poor old "Ghost of Bolling Hall" was right to wail "Pity poor Bradford".

M J Murphy, Leaventhorpe Avenue, Bradford 8

SIR - In light of the Girlington church attack, we know that there have been attacks on mosques around the country which have actually suffered being burnt. There is no justification for any of these attacks.

But we do not hear enough condemnation from white English people, so why should Muslims be quick to condemn the Girlington church attack? It is simply tit for tat.

Majid Khan, Little Horton Lane, Bradford 5

SIR - As a Bradfordian, it sickens me to see the racial conflict within the city.

Yet again in a mainly Asian area another white building is attacked. If the tables were reversed, it would have made the main television news.

Of course the remaining white population live in fear. The only time this kind of racially-motivated attack will stop is when the whole of the city is Asian and Muslim.

John Faulkner, Millfield Close, Rustington, West Sussex.

SIR - I would like to thank the T&A once again for creating a headline that will undoubtedly increase racial tensions in Bradford. This title openly displays that this despicable act was a racially-motivated act by angry youths who were deliberately trying to burn down the church quite likely in retaliation to the international crisis.

Without a doubt many readers would obviously be thinking along those lines, especially with the recent massacre of Christian worshippers in a church in Pakistan.

This article could have been presented in a more factual format rather than emphasising that these Asian youths were intent on burning down the church.

The majority of racial tensions are propelled by articles and sensationalised headings like this that divide the community. Maybe more people should stand up to criticise the media and prevent repercussions of a serious nature.

David Purnell, Kismet Gardens, Bradford 3

EDITOR'S NOTE: Our report was completely factual.

SIR - What next, after the attack on the Girlington church and its vicar? Will they be turning up on motorbikes and murdering the congregation with machine guns?

M White, Waverley Grove, Southsea, Portsmouth.

SIR - In a recent letter, Trevor Williams Berry suggested that there might be a Fifth Column working in Britain with intent to bring the country to its knees. I have been pondering this question for some time and firmly believe that there could well be.

Mr Berry highlighted the farmers and their problems with BSE and foot and mouth. The Government's response when they asked for aid to help them through this mismanaged farce was to suggest they diversify, turn their land to other uses.

My mind was turned to Stalin who advised his farmers to diversify in order to exist and when they did introduced large Government-controlled farms charging excessive prices for food.

Churchill's reply to this was a country that cannot feed itself cannot defend itself.

Government says farming needs drastically restructuring to be efficient and should diversify and puts George Haskins, chairman of Northern Foods, in charge, a man who firmly believes in fewer but bigger farms and GM foods.

With Government help he will oversee small farmers falling by the wayside and monopolies controlling our food supply.

The spare land will no doubt be sold for housing and our green belts disappear.

Should nature not kill off our farmers, Government policy will.

D Higson, Cleckheaton Road, Low Moor.

SIR - With reference to your October 25 report on young users of hard Drugs, your readers may be interested to note that Re-Solv, the Society for the Prevention of Solvent and Volatile Substance Abuse (VSA), operates a Freephone National Helpline: 0808 800 2345

The line is available Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm (excluding public holidays) and offers information and support regarding solvent and volatile substance abuse issues.

Readers may be aware that the majority of deaths from this dangerous activity are young people aged between 15 and 19 years. The overall number of VSA deaths in the last 12 months was 73 which means that solvent abuse is responsible for approximately eight times more deaths than the illegal drug Ecstasy2, which highlights the importance of the line.

Due to our experience in this field, we receive a lot of referrals from other organisations including the National Drugs Helpline.

Re-Solv also has a website offering information about VSA issues. Check it out at www.re-solv.org

Tracey, Helpline Officer.

SIR - In response to Jangir Akbar (Letters, October 30) who asks what the New York bombings have to do with Britain, I ask him what has Palestine got to do with him and other British Muslims? Do not the same rules apply?

Alan McVoy, Woodhall Avenue, Bradford.