Asian teenagers have launched a new group aimed at improving Manningham's image following reports of bonfire night trouble.

Oak Lane Youth Organisation has been formed with backing from Bradford West MP Marsha Singh and the police.

The youngsters behind the group want their work to show neighbours and the outside world that they do not deserve the violent reputation often associated with young Oak Lane residents.

The group, who all live in the Oak Lane area, say inaccurate and exaggerated accounts of the bonfire night events only served to cause bad feeling.

In a statement they say: "After the recent negative publicity, youths of the Oak Lane area who get job interviews are not given the jobs because of the area from which they come.

"The interviewers assume we are irresponsible and trouble causers because of what they have read and heard."

Mohammed Yasar, 16, said: "We are not violent people and we don't go around attacking police and firefighters. All of us here are in higher education and we want to get on. We are trying to make a good future for ourselves but they had to destroy it."

Adnan Meharban, 17, added: "Please, we are not fools or a rampaging mob."

The comments follow admissions last week from the Chief Constable Graham Moore who said the officer who released information about petrol bombs was wrong.

The error had come about over a crate of milk bottles, first thought to contain petrol but later found to be empty. By the time this was explained to the media, the petrol bombs story was on the national news.

The teenagers' statement reads: "While the police have accepted this mistake, the untold damage done would take a long time to rectify."

The teenagers also say it was wrong to assume the unconnected events of that night were due to youths when no arrests were made.

MP Marsha Singh said the teenagers showed a strength of character. "There is a small minority which might be wayward but most of the youth want some pride in themselves and want to be constructive."

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