Bradford Bulls want to turn their Super League clash with Castleford tomorrow into a peace match for the city.

And Council leaders are urging people to turn out in force and prove that Bradford is back in business.

Tomorrow's match is the biggest sporting event in the district since last weekend's devastating riots and last week's publication of Lord Ouseley's race review which painted a picture of fear and racial division.

But Lord Ouseley was also full of praise for the work of the Bulls and its programme of providing education, health and sports for people of all communities.

Now the table-topping team wants to take things one step further - and help rebuild the city's shattered image.

Leading councillors and MPs - including the Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq - who will be attending the game at Valley Parade and said that they backed the idea to use the occasion to promote a positive image of Bradford.

Coun Khaliq said that Sunday's occasion represented a new start for the city.

"Thousands of people will be going along to enjoy supporting their heroes and the event will hopefully send a positive sign that normality is returning to the communities of the district."

Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton said: "The people of Bradford have had to go through a very difficult few days in the public spotlight but it is now time for us all to look forward and consider ways of working together for the good of the district.

"The weekend's match is a chance for local people to wholeheartedly show their support for the district and some of their sporting heroes."

Councillor Ian Greenwood, leader of the Labour group, said: "The Bulls are supported by people of all ages and from all communities in Bradford. I hope that everyone in the district will join in the fight to overcome racial disharmony and social divisions.

"Sunday's match is an important opportunity for everyone to now put recent events behind them and look ahead to the future."

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe said: "I think the supporters and the public of Bradford will be looking forward more than ever to this match. It will send out a positive message 'business as usual' for the city after the sad events of last weekend."

And members of the Asian community agreed that sporting success is a positive way to rebuild the city's image.

"Now is the time to build bridges and take the first steps towards reconciliation across communities," said Amjad Pervez, chairman of the Asian Trades Link.

"Sunday's match is important in helping bring normality back to the city."

More than 3,000 school children have been given free tickets by the Bulls for the match, which will also see the club celebrate welcoming its one millionth supporter through the turnstiles since Super League began.

But Bulls chief executive Abi Ekoku said that Sunday's occasion was about much more than a rugby league match.

"Sunday is about the city of Bradford," he said. "There have been a significant number of negative images coming out of Bradford over the last week."

"There is actually a fantastic amount of good work going on at ground level and the race report did recognise that. We at the Bulls have been held up as an example."

And Bradford-born Bulls star Leon Pryce added: "The club has done everything it can to paint a positive image of the city - and Sunday's match should be another example of that."

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