Two Holme Wood teenagers say they are afraid to leave their homes after being portrayed as racists on a BBC TV news interview.

Rachel Burns, 17, and 14-year-old Chennelle Burnside were interviewed by the BBC as part of a report on the riots in the city.

The interview was broadcast on Sunday evening, and Miss Burns, who lives in Longfield Drive, Dudley Hill, claims she has been branded as racist by neighbours.

"The reporter asked me what I thought of the riots and I said it was pathetic, that we should all be able to get on," she said.

"We made it clear we're not racist, but they haven't shown that part."

Since the interview was broadcast, Chennelle has been too frightened to go to school for fear of attack, and Rachel says her family have received intimidating calls.

"People have been calling my family up telling us to watch our backs," she said.

"We went to a take-away and people were calling us racist gits."

The Reverend Gordon Dey, vicar of St Christopher's Church in Holme Wood Road, said he was concerned over the way Holme Wood has been portrayed.

"The BBC tried to present Holme Wood as a place that's racist and where Asian people are not welcome," he said.

"That's a total travesty of the truth - it's not the case.

"There needs to be a more measured way of dealing with these things.

"We have all got to be careful in this and try to make sure the route forward is one of reason and harmony.

"Here in Holme Wood the vast majority of people want to live their own lives and there's a gladness about the diversity of Bradford.

"I think we need to encourage that rather than polarise differences."

A BBC spokesman rejected claims that its reports were misleading.

"The BBC has reported the recent troubles in Bradford objectively and accurately," he said. "Indeed the head of BBC TV News, Roger Mosey, is from Bradford.

"We have no interest in misrepresenting the city.

"Our correspondents have interviewed a range of people from across the community to ensure their views are reflected.

"When the interviews are edited before being broadcast we take great care to ensure that the interviewee is portrayed accurately."