As Bradford Council started to begin the massive clear-up operation, Manningham residents were already trying to come to terms with what had happened, and why.

Aftab Khan, 32, of Manningham Lane, echoed the views of many residents.

"The people that did this are criminals and outsiders," he said. "Prior to yesterday, Bradford was getting back on its feet - there was no trouble at the mela last week."

Fahim Zamam, 32, believed that the riots were started by the National Front.

"The rioters are playing into their hands," he said. "It's what they want - they want to inflame things."

Student Nasar Hussain, 17, of Hall Ings Road, wanted to know why the NF was allowed in the city.

"The police didn't stop the NF, but when it came to us taking action, they stopped us," he said. "Why didn't they stop the National Front from coming here?"

Jamil Asheer, 30, of St Leonards Road, Girlington, felt police tactics were at fault.

"They have to control the NF in the first place," he said. "They shouldn't have let them in, and they are going to pay the price."

But Shazad Fazal, 27, disagreed.

"If it wasn't for the police there would've been some deaths," he said.

"You can't blame the police - if they're too heavy-handed people complain, and if they don't do enough people say they're soft. They can't win."

Rabnawaz Qureshi said he joined Mohammad Riaz in trying to calm the crowd down.

"We got the crowd to say they'd back off if they released the two guys they'd arrested," the 41-year-old said.

"We asked the police to release them but when they refused we left it alone. We tried our best but the police said no."

After living in Bradford for 25 years, Sajad Hussain said this was the first time he had felt intimidated.

"The Government has got to learn the lesson," he said.

"They wait for something to happen and then react.

"They have got to realise that the children throwing the firebombs have got nothing left to lose."

While some were questioning the reasons behind the riot, others were more concerned with the future.

Imtiaz Sabir, 32, a computer consultant from East Bowling, believed Bradford MPs have not done enough for the city.

"As far as I'm concerned Marsha Singh and Terry Rooney should resign," he said. "They've not done anything for Bradford - they're not good enough for the job."

Shezad Sheikh, 29, stressed that true Muslim values had been overtaken by a "hoodlum culture".

"If people were proper Muslims this would never have happened," he said. "Our culture is all about looking after one another and respecting each other.

"If there was an ounce of Islam in them this would not happen."

Operations manager Abdul Ghfoor, 31, of Beamsley Road, Shipley, believed the riots will cause problems.

"We are all going to suffer," he said. "Property prices will go down, insurance will go up.

"If was going to apply for a job and said I was from Bradford I would be lost before I started."