The street violence in Lidget Green was disappointing - but not surprising.

That's the view of one of Britain's leading experts on race relations, who is conducting a study into the tense race situation in Bradford.

Sir Herman Ouseley, pictured, former boss of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) is leading a review of the city's race relations. His report - commissioned last year - is due out next month.

He heads a team which has spent the last few months speaking to all kinds of people in the district about their opinion on racial tension, and how life across Bradford can be improved.

The wide-ranging review was set up in the wake of the collapse of the Bradford Racial Equality Council, but it has a broader remit: to help heal Bradford's racial wounds.

Inter-racial tension in Bradford has been highlighted by major street disorder in Manningham in 1995, in Toller Lane on Bonfire Night 1998 and Marshfields the following year, as well as a constant stream of smaller scale race attacks. In addition, most of the city's residential neighbourhoods are sharply segregated along racial lines.

Sir Herman, who is based in London, said he had followed events in Lidget Green on the TV and radio news and arrived back in the city for meetings with black workers' groups.

"I have spoken to a few people and I have been getting a very confused picture," he said.

"One thing that has come through is that the police response was very slow."

Police say the night of mayhem breaks down into 50 separate crimes or incidents - some with racial overtones, some not.

Sir Herman said that the trouble was consistent with the picture he was building up of harshly segregated communities.

"I am disappointed it has happened but it is not a surprise," he said.

"We have found racial tension and self segregation. People have been telling us a story that creates a pattern that suggests all is not well. All is obviously not well or we wouldn't have this review taking place.

"We have been talking with people from all backgrounds across the district. People are keen to see a turnaround and our report will make a number of very important suggestions to help Bradford lift itself.

"We have got a story to tell, and suggestions to make which will be helpful in trying to deal with the situation."

And while Sir Herman said the perpetrators of violence must be brought to justice, he appealed to the city's various communities to repel a blame culture which only served to deepen divisions.

Sir Herman was today set to visit the scene of Sunday's disturbances.

Police have since admitted that racist behaviour played a part in the trouble which saw 130 officers drafted into the Lidget Green area.

Sir Herman said: "I was very disappointed and saddened by the news.

"But from all the people I have spoken to over the last four or five months it isn't surprising because there are tensions in the air."

The panel had been formed to identify positive aspects within the district and to build upon them.

"There have been some positive areas, especially among the young," said Sir Herman.

He said many felt there should be more mixing between various communities at an early age and were keen to learn more about other cultures to promote unity.

The panel were meeting residents, business people and community leaders in Lidget Green today to get their views on the violence and how to close the divides.

And he urged residents to break away from a "culture of blame".

"The people who have committed these offences must be found."

But he said: "If people just say 'it is the blacks, Asians or whites, it doesn't solve the problem. You cannot blame one group or another - it just heightens the tension."