Home Office minister Paul Goggins was yesterday accused of excluding key community members from the first of his personal post-London bombings fact-finding tours.

Mr Goggins met members of the district's Muslim community to hear how they believe society can tackle the radicalism which inspired the bombers.

Scores packed into the Carlisle Business Centre, in Manningham, to hear the junior minister appeal for co-operation and tolerance.

But he faced a cynical reception, with some accusing him of rushing the meeting and therefore excluding many young people and women.

But Mr Goggins said: "We are facing a very difficult dilemma. Do we take months, or do we do it with greater urgency? And there was a sense that we had to do things with urgency after the events of July 7."

However Mohammed Amran, community cohesion manager at Greenhead High School, Keighley, told him that all members of all communities need to be involved.

He said: "If people are genuine, good things will come out of this, but it is important to get the right people on board - there is goodwill on behalf of the community."

Yesterday's meeting was one of 12 scheduled with Muslim groups nationwide. The information gathered will form the heart of a Government brainstorming session on September 20.

Mr Goggins said he wasn't embarrassed at the amount of ground the Government was now apparently having to make up with Britain's Muslims. He said: "I do understand the cynicism that arises when a minister comes and goes, but I am trying to understand the circumstances in which you are living."

He added: "The vast majority of Muslim community are peace loving people and want to contribute to their own community and the wider society.

"But that does not detract from the fact that there are some within the Muslim community who do not want peace ... but you have shown that you want to deal with that by being here, and we have to help you do that."

Gerry Sutcliffe, Bradford South MP, who chaired the meeting, welcomed the focus on involving young people and women, and added: "Bradford's record, with all its problems, is one of working together. Immigration has always been around in Bradford and so I am always optimistic. It is the Government's duty to make sure this works."