A BRADFORD-based group is promoting peace and asking people to live in harmony with their neighbours following the recent attack in New Zealand.

Hope Rising Action Group, in partnership with Lower Grange Community Centre, along with local residents, visited the Jamiyat Tabligh-Ul-Islam mosque, in Saffron Drive today.

They exchanged cards and flowers and shared their good wishes with the mosque leaders.

Group member Emma Harrison said: "We want to give a clear message that we are all one community. Attacks on ordinary people are deeply upsetting and hurt all of us."

While Julie Longden added: ‘We stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters as one community - we are united in our grief and pain."

The Imam Shaykh Muhammad Ahsan, and representative of the 18 associated Bradford mosques, and the committee members welcomed their visitors and said they appreciated the kind gesture and looked forward to continuing their long standing relationship with the local community.

Shaykh Muhhammad Ahsan said: "Uniting humanity to promote peace has been the purpose of our mosques since the organisation's formation 1963 in Bradford. "We have a proud record of working with our communities ever since. We have been living in harmony for over 50 years and our mosques have provided a vital service for all.

"The events in Christchurch have shocked the world and have seen mosques targeted for the first time on our shores, but by the grace of God it’s been only minor incidents.

"It’s gestures like the ones seen here by our dear neighbours in Lower Grange and Allerton that puts one's faith back into humanity. We hope to work further closely together, in the future, and welcome the friendship and support.

"We all want to promote peace and live in harmony with our neighbours."