"Feisty, ruthless and full of Yorkshire wit".

That was TV presenter David Dimbleby's verdict on the 149 Bradfordians who made up the audience for the BBC's Question Time last night.

The sound of thousands of clapping Christians was replaced with the reverential hush of the BBC's political debate show at the Abundant Life church centre in Wapping Road.

It has been 11 years since the topical programme came to Bradford.

Back in 1990 Mr Dimbleby's predecessor Peter Sissons was in the chair and his panel at the Bingley Arts Centre included Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and David Mellor, the then Home Office minister.

This time it was the turn of Bradford Bulls chief executive Abi Ekoku; Shadow Transport Secretary and former Bradford Council leader Eric Pickles; Education Secretary Estelle Morris; author Joanne Harris and Times columnist Matthew Parris to face a good-humoured audience.

"Don't wait so long until you come back next time," one audience member shouted out during the warm-up.

Director David Coleman promised a swifter return. "Okay. We'll come back in maybe 10.9 years," he joked.

But then the serious stuff began and as Stan-the-floorman motioned for hush with his hands and a cameramen began scuttling around the set - which pretty much filled the centre's main auditorium which can seat 800 - trying to catch every nuance on the audience's faces.

While a bored-looking sound assistant half watched the show on her monitor, the first question about whether shamed Transport Secretary Stephen Byers should resign was mooted.

Predictably Estelle Morris leapt to her colleague's defence.

But the rest of the panel and the audience agreed that the minister should have gone - although Abi Ekoku ruminated that politics was full of "truths and half-truths" and this was a fact of life.

Electronic tagging for young offenders was the next big issue on the agenda.

Matthew Parris scored the biggest laugh of the night when he suggested that Stephen Byers should be tagged so we could "see what he's been up to!"

Ironically, a question about the vulgar nature of today's comedians failed to raise a titter until somebody mentioned the notorious Carry-on films.

A question about whether single faith schools promoted segregation and intolerance evoked more serious debate.

Most of the panel agreed they should not become scapegoats for the social divisions in Bradford.

There was just enough time for a final question about whether England Rugby Union captain Martin Johnson - who was caught punching another player on camera - should be allowed to play against the France in the Six Nations Competition tomorrow.

Eric Pickles wryly retorted that he didn't believe sportsmen should hit each other - or that politicians should lie.

And that was it - time up.

Contrary to popular belief, Question Time is recorded an hour before it is broadcast at 10.35pm, so the affable Mr Dimbleby asked the audience to remain in their seats at the end of the show just in case anything needed re-shooting.

Afterwards Mr Dimbleby said : "Yorkshire audiences always have very strong views. You've just got to remember not to argue with them over cricket or rugby league!"