Only those wearing the most rose-tinted of spectacles would deny that there are divisions between the different Bradford communities. In places, they are disturbingly deep.

Last year's Manningham riots have been blamed on those divisions. They also aggravated them by increasing the suspicion and resentment that already existed between people of different racial and cultural backgrounds.

The big challenge facing this district now is to build bridges across those divides and create a wider community of people who, while acknowledging their differences, are willing and able to live in harmony with each other.

Much work has been undertaken in this direction over the past year or so. However a great deal more needs to be done if the message is to be got across to everyone how important this spirit of tolerance and co-operation is for all our futures.

The community harmony awards launched today should give an important boost to this drive. The awards will acknowledge individuals, schools and youth groups, community and voluntary organisations and businesses responsible for projects which promote unity between people of different backgrounds and ages.

There are a lot of people already working hard as individuals or in conjunction with others to do their bit to bring the district's diverse populations together. However, their efforts at present go largely unrecognised.

Hopefully, once the awards scheme is rolling on an annual basis, stories will emerge which should inspire others to enter into the spirit of things and join in the campaign to make the word "harmony" synonymous with the name of Bradford.