Sikh and Hindu community leaders in Bradford have repudiated claims they are allied against Muslims.

The extremist British National Party is circulating a cassette called Islam: A Threat To Us All which it claims is a joint statement with Sikhs and Hindus.

The BNP claims people of the Sikh and Hindu faiths are amalgamating against Islam and have co-operated to put out this warning.

But Hasmukh Shah of Bradford, international trustee of the world council of Hindus, described the BNP as "abhorrent" and denounced its tactics.

Mr Shah said he was approached by the leader of the BNP following the summer riots.

"As I was a Hindu he thought he would find a common chord by talking to me. Of course we are against all extremism and rejected his approach," he said.

"All they are trying to do is to take advantage of the situation. Hindus are as much a victim of the riots as the white indigenous people and businesses. The BNP is trying to show sympathy but we have nothing to do with that sort of policy.

"The BNP to us is abhorrent and we denounce its extremist tactics. It has no place in British society."

His views were echoed by Balbir Singh, Bradford's first Sikh councillor and founder member of the Bradford Educational and Cultural Association of Sikhs.

He said he was not aware of anyone being approached locally but said that, if aproaches were made, "we would tell them where to go."

"This sort of thing has no place in this society. I have lived here for nearly 38 years and am proud that it is a multi-faith, multi-cultural society. All Asians celebrate each others' festivals and this attempt to drive a wedge between the religions is pathetic and will not work."

Muslims also condemned the moves by the BNP to divide the community.

Maroof Shaffi, president of the Bradford branch of the Islamic Society of Great Britain, said it was petty politics. He said: "It is a typical case of my enemy's enemy is my friend but the BNP are sadly mistaken. How anyone would fall for this is beyond me, it is a classic colonial trap.

"They are just trying to capitalise on the tensions in the city but I am sure that they will be totally rejected.

"The national media has been very anti-Islam and trying to portray every Muslim as a potential bin Laden and the BNP are capitalising on that."

Bary Malik, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, said the idea was a nonsense.

"The British National Party getting support from Asians? They really are challenging the intelligence of the community. Mainstream British society has rejected them and they are now clutching at straws."

Khadim Hussain, an executive member of the Council of Mosques for Bradford, said if he received any BNP propaganda, he put it in the bin.