The streets of Keighley remained calm over the weekend as neighbouring Bradford experienced some of the worst riots in its history.

Police officers were out in force as an operation was put in place at Keighley Railway Station to stop any members of right wing groups entering the town.

Residents and shop owners were bracing themselves for trouble after rumours circulated Keighley that the National Front was to stage an impromptu demonstration in the town centre on Saturday.

However, the demonstration and feared violence never materialised and Keighley town centre remained relatively immune from the rioting which blighted Bradford.

The only incident was an isolated act of vandalism carried out by youths who congregated in Highfield on Sunday evening and caused damage to two minibuses.

Keighley police had increased numbers and a high visibility presence in the town centre on Saturday, with a cordon of officers at Keighley Station.

Windows in the station and in businesses based within the station building were boarded up in readiness for any potential violence.

Wasim Arshad, a director of Globetec Communications mobile phone company, says he decided to shut up shop on Saturday afternoon after a crowd started to gather outside, with some hurling racial abuse.

He says: "We had a police community liaison officer visit us on Saturday morning warning us that there might be problems later on. The police did a good job to make sure nothing went wrong, and as soon as our shutters went up the crowd dispersed."

Abdul Motin, a community advice worker for the Bangladeshi Community Association, says: "We arranged a few community meetings with Keighley police before the weekend and we spoke in the mosque and asked members of the community to let the police do the policing.

"The preventative measures by the police helped to reassure the community and I praise the officers for the action they took.

"The Bangladeshi community didn't want to become involved in any trouble, and as far as we are aware, they weren't."

Zafar Ali, an officer with the former Keighley Racial Equality council, says: "It's a very difficult situation and we need to co-operate with the police, so long as the police are taking an active part.

"The police have got to assure the community that they will do their utmost to contain these trouble makers.

"It is important that youngsters in my community work together and don't play into the National Front's hands.

"The consensus from the very many decent people in Keighley is that they condemn what has happened in Bradford."

Chairman of the Braithwaite People's Association, Mick Westerman, is calling for a meeting with other leaders from the white and Asian community to ensure Keighley doesn't experience the same problems as Bradford.

He says: "I just basically want a meeting where we can get together and talk of a way forward for the community in Keighley where we can work together.

"It's our town and we don't want to see it ruined by a small minority. Let's stamp out trouble like this once and for all.

"We don't want to talk about what's gone on in the past - we should be concentrating on what's going to happen in the future."