Home Office Minister Tony McNulty today heard first-hand how Bradford people think the Government can work with them to combat the threat of terrorism.

After criticism that he was not listening in Leeds yesterday, Mr McNulty was anxious to assure community leaders that he was taking their views very firmly on board.

Mr McNulty and Meg Munn, Minister for Communities and Local Government, met more than 100 key figures from a wide range of communities, faiths and organisations at Bradford's Carlisle Business Centre today.

The visit is part of the Government's Preventing Extremism Together (PET) initiative. After the meeting Mr McNulty said: "The people here, today, thought I was listening. It was a vigorous and robust debate but that is not a bad thing."

Strong views were expressed on Government policy in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon and complaints were made about the use of the phrase Islamic Fascism by some Government spokespeople.

Mr McNulty said: "I think Bradford's gone very well. It was a vibrant, reflective and thoughtful meeting of which the city should be proud."

Answering criticism from council and community leaders that nothing had been heard since a Government minister visited the city in the wake of the London tube bombings last year, Mr McNulty conceded there had been lack of feedback.

But he said that although no-one had reported back directly to Bradford it did not mean that action was not being taken.

Dr Bary Malik, president of the Ahmadiya Muslim Association of Bradford, said the meeting was an opportunity to express feelings very frankly. What came out very strongly was objection to the British Government's policy towards Muslim countries and the Muslim nation as a whole.

"People are not happy that Britain is blindly following American foreign policy," he said. And he said strong views were expressed that the words Islamic Fascism have come from Government spokesman.

"On a local level I think it is very important that we work hard towards inter-community relations and have the courage to recognise where there are problems," he said.

He accused the Government of having too much expectations of Muslim leaders who sometimes could not be expected to know all that was happening among their young people.

Of the meeting he said: "I'm optimistic because dialogue is always something that will bring some positive results."

Bradford Council leader Kris Hopkins said the Government needed to stop denying that its foreign policy wasn't a significant issue for people. He said it was affecting community tensions in the district.

He called for the Government to fund regeneration in Bradford and to make long-term cash available for faith groups in the city who wanted to promote dialogue.

"A minister appearing one year and reappearing for a couple of hours the next is not going to come up with solutions. We need a consistent approach and people have to have a real sense of belonging," he said.