Senior police and Bradford Council chiefs will hold top-level talks about tightening security around the city to foil bomb attacks by racists.

The meeting is a response to a bomb threat targeting Bradford and claiming to be from the extreme right-wing organisation Combat 18.

The group has already been linked with two nail-bomb attacks on successive Saturday afternoons in London.

Security will now be stepped up in Bradford.

West Yorkshire Police have taken advice from Scotland Yard colleagues and have asked people to be specially vigilant and report anything suspicious.

A meeting is being arranged between the police and Bradford Council to work out ways of minimising risks.

Councillor Mohammed Ajeeb, deputy leader of the Council, said: "I have been in touch with Inspector Martin Baines, the community race relations officer, and he has promised to arrange a meeting at assistant chief constable level.

"It will also involve our chief executive, Council leader

Ian Greenwood and officers dealing with CCTV and community safety.

"Then we can see if we can jointly devise a plan."

Officials would look at how the city's CCTV system might be used to reduce risks, said Councillor Ajeeb. Measures such as the removal or sealing of rubbish bins were also possible.

"We need to nip any risk in the bud," he said.

Bradford South Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe has added his voice to calls for vigilance. He said there had been "long-standing concern" about the activities of Combat 18 in West Yorkshire.

It was important that the police remained "resolute."

Ateeq Siddique, of the Bradford Racial Equality Council, said: "Bradford has a fantastic tradition of anti-racism and anti-fascism and people must now be vigilant."

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