A handful of runaway Bradford riot suspects managed to escape to Pakistan - but promptly returned home after finding life there too tough.

Detectives confirmed that about six of those featured on their "wanted list" had jetted out of Britain when they realised the net was closing in.

But faced with the harsh conditions of poverty and strict Islamic law, the fugitives swiftly booked flights back to Britain. Every one of those making the return journey had since been arrested.

It came as detectives from Operation Wheel - the police inquiry into last July's disorder - repeated their appeal for help in tracing the 'last batch' of suspected rioters who remained at large.

Two weeks ago, they released mugshots of ten people still wanted for their part in the violence which caused £10 million of destruction and saw more than 300 police officers injured.

Two have failed to turn up at court, three have been identified but not traced and five others have yet to be named by the public.

Detective Inspector Christopher Binns said: "After the last appeal we had a disappointing response.

"Officers from Operation Wheel will continue to track them down but it is only with the continued support of the whole community that we can bring what has been a massive inquiry to its earliest conclusion."

Det Insp Binns said some people might be suffering from what he called 'poster blindness' - where they quickly skim over a newly-published set of mugshots and wrongly think them to be an old one.

"I would ask them to take another careful look," said Det Insp Binns.

"It would be wrong that these last few suspects are not brought to justice for the devastation that was caused that day. We need people to pick up the phone one more time and give us these names."

Speaking about those suspects who had escaped to Pakistan, he said: "We know that a few went out but did not like the lifestyle and so flew back to Britain."

Only two suspects, who flew out many months ago, are thought to remain there.

"We have been liaising with our colleagues in Pakistan to try to trace them," said Det Insp Binns.

Other suspects who had been picked up in Britain were discovered as far afield as Plymouth and Scotland, he added.