Campaigners opposing the proposed English Defence League march in Bradford city centre later this month have said any ban is now in the hands of the police after handing a 10,000-name petition to the Home Secretary Theresa May today.

Members of Bradford Together, a banner organisation seeking to block the demonstration by the far-right group, travelled to London to hand in the petition to a Home Office private secretary.

Paul Meszaros, who has co-ordinated the campaign – which has been supported by the Telegraph & Argus – said the meeting was encouraging.

He said: “It went really well. They assured us that they had been monitoring the situation, as they had in other places. They were visibly impressed by the size of the petition.

“We pointed out how hundreds had been posted in to the T&A because that does demonstrate an extra degree of commitment – to go to the trouble of posting something in.

“It is in the hands of West York-shire Police now. They have to ask the Council to ask the Home Office.”

Mr Meszaros travelled to the capital with Hope not Hate organiser Lorraine Fitzsimons and anti-fascist campaigner and magazine editor Nick Lowles.

Police have been assessing the possible risks of a proposed march by the EDL on Saturday, August 28, and a counter-demonstration by supporters of Unite Against Facism.

A West Yorkshire Police spokes-man said last night the risk assessment was still ongoing.

Legally, the police must start from a position of allowing peaceful protest. Any application for a ban can only take place after a detailed police risk assessment. That must be balanced against the right to freedom of expression under the Human Rights Act.

A Home Office spokesman said: “The Government fully understand concerns about this demonstration and condemns all groups who seek to create distrust and divisions between communities.

“Demonstrations should not and cannot be a cover for violent or criminal acts.”