The riots may be over but youngsters at one Bradford primary school are still coming to terms with how their city was ravaged in a weekend of violence.

Today their head teacher spoke of how she urged staff to let the children at Lapage school, pictured, get the riots 'out of their system' as they strove to make sense of the carnage that took place around them

Head teacher, Jill Jagger, said: "We had a staff briefing on the Monday morning after the weekend of riots.

"I said to the teachers that they should allow the children to get the riots out of their system.

"All the children had something to say about the riots. One of the ways that adults have dealt with the issue is to write a letter to the T&A and we thought it important that the children have that opportunity too."

But teachers were not really prepared for the flood of emotion.

Youngsters from Year Three upwards wrote letters and drew pictures addressed to the editor of the Telegraph & Argus, councillors and the Lord Mayor expressing sorrow, anger, fear and frustration at the riots.

Mrs Jagger said: "Some of the children are very deep-thinking and had a very mature viewpoint."

Though the school is not in the area where the trouble took place, the children were very aware of what happened.

The letters echo feelings of sorrow that the majority of adults wrote about in the letters pages of the T&A.

Children have written about the fighting between whites and Asians, the National Front, the fear of having their homes attacked and despair that the violence could escalate.

There is also a plea for peace and several children have spoken of how Islam is a religion which promotes tolerance and understanding.

Ayesha Ansar, eight, asked leading councillors: "Can you arrange a party for people of different religions to get to-gether and become friends?"

Haarissa Bibi said: "In the Quran and holy books it says you should not swear or do anything bad and all Muslims must not fight."

Shezad Zaman said it doesn't matter what people look like, they are all human underneath.

Khuram Shezad said: "Everyone in the fight should feel ashamed of themselves. I know the National Front came but that doesn't mean you have to go and use your fist."

Jawaria Bibi said she was afraid to sleep at home after shops were attacked.

"I live in one shop and I'm not happy about the fighting. I want to sleep in my auntie's house. I want to live in peace."

Sahdia Ahmed urges peace.

"I'm very scared and I wish this foolish fight stops. Remember in the holy books it says never have evil in your heart."