The St George's Day parade row has descended into farce', according to a church leader who was due to take part.

Despite the open letter, the Vicar of Girlington, the Reverend Tony Tooby, is still demanding to know who was ultimately responsible for the decision not to allow the parade to take place.

Last night, Mr Tooby said: "I, and the T&A, asked a question when this all emerged. It was simply this: Who cancelled the parade and why? These questions have not been answered.

"I believe everyone is accountable to someone and that the police and Council are accountable to us, the people of Bradford. They have failed to live up to that accountability because they have not said why?

"There has been mention in some media of there being a race issue but this is not about race at all.

"It was about young people of all backgrounds coming together.

"We have consistently been told that this was a health and safety issue. Health and safety is something people hide behind, it is not a reason.

"The Council is chasing its tail and don't seem to know what to say next."

The event was initiated by an invitation to schools last November by the neighbourhood policing team.

"The police came out on November 5 and told us about their plans for the parade including the exact route of two miles," Mr Tooby said.

" If they couldn't put the correct procedures in place in that time why did they approach us in the first place?

"This liaison officer who sent the letter did not just wake up one day and decide to have a St George's Day Parade.

"There must have been a sanction from higher up. They had responsibility and they should have seen it through. Someone has to own up to this, let's have a name for the person responsible."