Students from two Keighley schools were united this week as they proposed ways of building bridges and making the town a more peaceful place.

Members of Greenhead High School and Holy Family School's joint sixth form took part in a day-long conference entitled "What would a peaceful Keighley be like - and what can we contribute towards it?"

After discussing the issue in 10 different groups the students presented their findings to Keighley MP Ann Cryer during a debate at Keighley Playhouse.

The convention was organised in the wake of this summer's Bradford riots, when racial tensions threatened to boil over in Keighley.

Many of the students touched on common issues such as the lack of youth clubs, the need for lower taxes and for more police on the streets to combat anti social behaviour and drug dealing.

There were calls for greater integration in the community, especially in the classroom from an early age, and an end to "gang culture".

Mrs Cryer was also questioned about the comments she had made about Pakistani and Bangladeshi students underachieving in the classroom.

Mrs Cryer said: "We could do with more youth clubs and over the last four years I've been calling for more - but let's not make them Asian or Church of England clubs, let's make them multicultural.

"We don't want to get to a Belfast situation where we are dividing up schools and clubs on ethnic or religious grounds.

"As the MP for Keighley I have never discriminated against anyone on the basis of their colour. About 15 per cent of my electorate are Asian and yet myself and my office spend about a third of our time working with the Asian community.

"I have never criticised the Pakistani and Bangladeshi community - what I've pointed out is under achievement in those communities.

"I want changes from the local authority, from government and from the leaders of the two communities. It would be easier to turn my back, but we need answers."

The convention was organised in conjunction with the University of Bradford's Department of Peace Studies as part of its Programme for a Peaceful City project.

Staff from the department worked closely with teachers and students, as well as the Interfaith Team from the RC Diocese of Leeds.

Professor Jenny Pearce, a member of the Ouseley Race Review Team, also addressed the pupils.

Holy Family School's Head of RE, Caroline O'Neill, said: "Today shows that we have a voice and what you can do as young people in Keighley.

"It will not stop today - the peace studies department will take your comments away and discuss where can we go from here and how we can move on as a community in Keighley."