In the inevitable inquest which has followed the ugly events on Bradford's streets at the weekend, the police have been criticised.

They have come under attack for advising Bradford Festival organisers to cancel Saturday's finale event, for allowing National Front members into Bradford, and failing to prevent what started as a "peaceful" rally in Centenary Square from turning into a riot.

The letter published in today's Telegraph & Argus from Superintendent Mark Whyman is a stark reminder to us all of the danger these ordinary men and women - mums, dads, sons and daughters - faced in the name of duty.

The people who were at the frontline of a blazing, sometimes bloody, battlefield were not members of some specially- trained, invincible force who were spirited on to the streets of Bradford when the violence erupted.

They were beat bobbies, patrol and community officers who were drafted in, issued with standard riot gear who had to hold their ground while a hail of missiles - including petrol bombs - rained down on them. In addition, they were threatened with the sort of weapons most of us would hope would never be wielded on the streets of our city.

In the aftermath of the riot, police admitted they had struggled to control the situation and had been outnumbered.

The criticism has come, not because the police did a bad job, but because people across the city wish the events of Saturday had not happened.

The message from many of our readers, in letters and comments received this week, is that the police did a brilliant job. Perhaps, when they read Supt Whyman's letter, a few more will join that chorus.