Angry demonstrators were forced back by police after trying to enter Bradford Crown Court today, in a protest over the racial make-up of juries.

Lines of police pushed back an angry crowd who had gathered outside the court building to show their support for the family of Mohammed Asghar.

The protest was peaceful, but tensions rose when the demonstrators tried to get inside the court building and were pushed back by a group of at least 20 officers. More than 60 officers were on the scene to prevent any trouble.

Family and friends of Mr Asghar, 43, the owner of a takeaway shop who was stabbed to death, are angry about the acquittal of his alleged attacker.

An all-white jury at Bradford Crown Court acquitted Jonathan Fairbank on the grounds of self- defence. Mr Fairbank had been charged with racially-aggravated murder, in one of the first cases brought under new anti-racist legislation, but it was thrown out after the court heard that Mr Asghar had grabbed a bottle during a row.

Campaigners are now demanding that juries in future reflect the racial make-up of the Bradford district. Mr Asghar's widow Naseem said she was shocked by the jury's verdict - and all five of her children, aged 18 to eight, have been left "shattered".

"I was shocked when I saw there was not a single Asian or black face on the jury," she said.

The Commission for Racial Equality is supporting the family's campaign and writing to Home Secretary Jack Straw.

The protest was addressed by Mohammed Amran, of the Commission for Racial Equality, and Ateeq Siddique, a Bradford anti-racism and youth worker.

Ishtiaq Ahmed, of the Bradford Council for Mosques, said: "It's important we have confidence in the courts and the police - people must be convinced they will get a fair deal. Anything that undermines that can't be good for race relations."