Police were today investigating a suspected arson attack on a Bradford caf just days after it was at the centre of a violent dispute between rival gangs.

It is believed petrol bombs were used to start two fires at the Young Lions caf in Lumb Lane, Manningham, early today.

The fires burnt themselves out before firefighters arrived, although there was some damage.

Inspector David Walls said: "I can confirm we are investigating a suspected arson attack. Lumb Lane is an established area of different communities living together. There are always tensions there which is something we are constantly monitoring."

The fires came just four days after a gang attacked the same caf, located in an area widely regarded as a haunt for drugs dealers.

Police were drafted in to defuse the problems which had left residents fearing for their safety and included reports of people wielding baseball bats.

Today's fires came just hours after Manningham vicar Bob Hill called for residents to work together to stamp out the problems. On Saturday evening he visited people in pubs, takeaways and the area's mosque to offer support following the unrest. "Everyone is sick and tired of that kind of activity," he said. "It produces a great deal of tension and unrest we could all do without."

He said the community had to strive to pull together. "People have a right to walk the streets without feeling threatened and to cross the road and to drink in a bar or caf."

Mr Hill said: "I think it's a terrific community. It has a bad name that is often undeserved." Faqir Ur-Rehman, chairman of Manningham Residents' Association appealed for calm. He said reasons for the trouble include high unemployment, drugs and racial tension.

"The people who are doing these things should call on local government to provide them with jobs, instead of doing these kind of things," he said. "This kind of violence won't solve anything."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.