Bradford's Asian community will play their part in helping to eradicate gun violence in Bradford, the former chairman of a police ethnic minority committee has pledged.

Rashid Awan, who is still a member of the Bradford and District Ethnic Minority Communities Police Liaison Committee, said people in the community had expressed grave concerns about what seemed to be a widespread use of guns.

And they would be keen to back any police moves which rid the streets of illegally-held weapons.

He spoke out in support of the Telegraph & Argus's campaign to stamp out gun violence in Bradford.

"Steps need to be taken to control firearms in a stringent way because they're getting into the hands of youths. That's a great concern for the community in general," said Mr Awan, who is also president of the Pakistan Society of West Yorkshire.

"We in the community would definitely support any measure taken by the police.

"We would be part of any campaign whatsoever to reduce firearms or any violence. People are very concerned and they're showing great anxiety about how these firearms are getting into the hands of youths."

Mr Awan added: "We are trying to improve the image of Bradford and this is definitely not doing any good to the future vision on the city."

Asian members of the community have seen much of the gun violence in areas where they live and have expressed their growing concern.

Sunday night's shooting of a man as he sat in his car in Lumb Lane was the city's seventh firearms incident in six months, with one man dead as a result of the violence and six others injured.

Both shotguns and handguns are among the weapons used in the series of shootings which have left local people shocked and horrified.

Yesterday, Bradford Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton called for more Government cash to help police stamp out gun law in the district.

And the city's MPs have met Home Secretary Jack Straw to highlight their concerns about the violence in Bradford.