Elderly residents from an estate went head-to-head with youngsters at a workshop designed to ease tensions between the two age groups.

Teenagers and pensioners from Bradford's Allerton estate worked through their differences at the mediation event held at Caf West on Wanstead Crescent.

The afternoon of 'peace-talks' was set up by Bradford Community Accord following research by the Anti Crime Partnership into friction between the age groups.

Inter-generational Co-ordinator Lorrainne Knott said she had approached both age categories to find out what the problems were.

She said: "What I found is that young people are as fearful of the elderly as the other way round. Older residents said they found large groups of teenagers intimidating and difficult to communicate with.

"And the youngsters also said they had problems communicating with the elderly.

"A lot of young people have not got anyone over 50 in their family. A lot of their grandparents are in their 40s."

Youngsters from the estate were invited to Caf West alongside members of Allerton District Disabled Carers Senior Residents Association (ADDCSRA) and elderly organisation Silver Threads.

The groups paired up and worked on projects together to break down barriers.

Projects included working on the Internet to discover new skills and interests. And a creative writing workshop, run by Nora Wilson, 77, of Rhodesway, Bradford, which examined the emotions experienced by young and old in regards to one another.

Beckfoot School pupil Tyler Richards, 14, of Allerton, said he had enjoyed the creative writing session. He said he had been surprised by the challenges faced by the elderly people in their youth.

"It was different when Nora was young," he said.

"When she was working all she got was about £1 a week."

ADDCSRA member Sandra Bullock, 49, of Allerton, said she had been pleased at the response from young people at the event.

"I think there should be more things of its kind going on - there should be more cross grouping," she said.

Healthy living co-ordinator at Caf West, Michaela Howell, said: "This is fantastic. Young people and older people have had a great time and there has been some really interesting moments."

Miss Knott said she was keen for the two groups to continue to meet.

"We are hoping this is going to be the start of something quite regular," she said.