A letter criticising the behaviour of Asian youths during the Lidget Green disturbances has provoked a mixed response.

E-mails poured in to the Telegraph & Argus following the letter by Mr Khan published in Saturday's paper, with reaction ranging from relief that someone had come forward with the views and condemnation that one community had been singled out.

Community leaders also gave varying degrees of praise for the letter, though all agreed Mr Khan had the right to make his comments.

The Pakistan-born Bradfordian had said in a letter to the T&A that he felt the need to apologise for the behaviour of Asian "yobs" in Bradford.

"Their unruly behaviour knows absolutely no bounds and has created a divided city," he wrote.

Today Mohammed Amran, Bradford-based commissioner for the Commission for Racial Equality, said: "People should be allowed to express their views openly.

"In terms of the problems with Asian youths, there are certain people within certain communities that cause trouble, but that's across the board.

"We have to be careful that we do not label every single person as a trouble-maker within the Asian community and we have to take on board these views to see how we can move forward."

But Sher Azam, president of the Council for Mosques, said the only people who should apologise for the violence are those who were directly involved.

He said: "The people who are responsible for the wrongdoings should be brought to justice, whether they're white, Asian, black or yellow.

"It's wrong for anyone who is not involved and does not know the full extent of what happened to be involved.

"This is condemning one community, which is wrong."

The Bishop of Bradford, the Right Rev David Smith, welcomed condemnation of violence by anyone.

He said: "I think violence is always going to damage the community of Bradford, and I mean the whole community, whoever is the cause of that violence.

"Any expression of regret and any condemnation of violence is appropriate and welcome."

One e-mail sent in by an Asian reader said: "Let it be known that the crime in Bradford Asian areas is not as bad as white areas in Manchester, Salford or, more close to home, the Seacroft estate in Leeds or Holme Wood - check the statistics."