The people of Bradford should capitalise on the city's unique diversity to find their own solutions to problems, Lord Ouseley told a conference.

Lord Ouseley, pictured, told a 200-strong audience at Bradford University that the multi-cultural community had enough experience, ideas and knowledge and could work together to restore pride.

And on his first formal visit to the city yesterday following the publication of his race review report, he said they should not wait for institutional response but promote work already underway.

"I have deliberately kept out of Bradford since the report. It is people who have produced the report for others to take forward," he said.

"Our report reflects the views of other people and what they told us of their situation. It also told us that all the solutions to the problems are here in Bradford.

"Great enthusiasm proliferates in the district but people are doing things unheralded, unacknowledged. Bradford should sell itself better to the world. It has a huge reserve of resources and experience from things that have happened."

Lord Ouseley was just one of the speakers at a forum entitled Post Ouseley, Post Riots: What Does It Mean to Be Bradfordian? organised by staff and students in the university's Peace Studies Department.

Representatives of the teaching, business, youth and voluntary sector were among those participating in workshops to look at how the city was changing.

Lord Ouseley encouraged people to be more positive about the ideas which were working and making the city a vibrant place.

"The important thing is for it to be promoted and marketed. We need to increase knowledge and awareness of things in Bradford that are happening and things that are working and how progress demonstrates inclusiveness. We do that by examples that show the benefits of diversity."

He said alongside the success of the University, Peace Museum and National Museum of Photography, Film and Television were hardworking groups spearheading positive change.

"There is also a whole range of interfaith networks and 20-20 Vision and the Capital of Culture and sport music and joint fashion shows by the young which shows people are coming together."

Lord Ouseley concluded: "I am proud to have been part of Bradford's history and part of this process and what you are trying to do.

"The report won't solve all the problems because it can't - but it must contribute to a process."

Lord Ouseley's report called Community Pride Not Prejudice was commissioned by Bradford Vision to look at racial divisions in the city.

It presented Bradford as a city plagued by segregated gang culture and found children from different backgrounds often failed to mix in Bradford's multi-faith schools.

Recommendations included putting culture lessons on the national curriculum and a "People Programme" including a centre of excellence focusing on Bradford people and how they can share their diverse experiences.