Detectives were today investigating the possibility that far right groups had a hand in the street battles at Lidget Green.

Detective Superintendent Phil Sedgwick, who is leading the investigation into the weekend's violence, said it was one of many lines of inquiry being actively investigated.

And Gerry Sutcliffe, MP for Bradford South, said he had been told that a gang of football thugs known as the 'Ointment' had been drinking in pubs in Clayton earlier that day.

Meanwhile, the disturbances in Bradford have been the source of comment on Internet message boards used by supporters of far right groups Combat 18 and the National Front.

One user from Leeds boasted, in a message posted on Monday afternoon: "I'll be taking a venture down the area tonight to capitalise on the situation."

Another man from South Yorkshire stated that he had tried to visit Bradford to get involved in trouble but had been turned back by police.

Det Supt Sedgwick said he was not aware of the comments, but was taking the right wing-link seriously.

"We'd be foolish to discount any line of inquiry," he said. "Firstly we want to know who this group of men are and their names and addresses and then we will look into their backgrounds and see if there is anything a bit more sinister. We are actively investigating it as a possible motive."