Frightened people sought refuge in a pub's upstairs

At least eight people were injured by flying glass and stones, with two people kept in hospital overnight with facial fractures.

Police said they were unsure whether racial tensions were to blame for the disturbances, adding they believed the trouble involved racially mixed groups.

Senior police officers met with community leaders on Monday to discuss the disturbances.

Superintendent Mark Whyman said: "We don't have a clear picture of a race element here."

But Mohammed Amran, of the Commission for Racial Equality, said the incident that started at the pub was between a group of Asian youths and a group of white youths.

"Then it spilt onto the streets where Asian takeaways were attacked by white youths and bricked and bottled," he said.

Pubs damaged

The disturbances were spread over a large area and involved various groups, according to police.

The Coach House was badly damaged with windows broken and reports of a fire on the premises.

We were just clinging together like sardines. We were so frightened

William Hand eyewitness

At least eight vehicles were set on fire and destroyed in the pub car park.

Police in riot gear were called in as shop windows were broken and a chemist damaged as the violence spread through the district.

Staff at a second pub, The Second West, took refuge in an upstairs room as youths hurled bricks and petrol bombs, badly damaging the building.

Terry Lawrence, its landlord, told the BBC: "The women and children upstairs were screaming and crying."

80-year-old hit

He said one man had suffered a heart attack and an 80-year-old woman had been hit in the head by a flying brick.

Landlord Terry Lawrence said it was a frightening experience

William Hand, a drinker in the pub at the time, said he was among 60 people who sought refuge upstairs.

He said up to 60 Asians banged on the windows of The Old Fellows pub across the road and threw petrol bombs through the windows of the Second West.

West Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward to help their enquiries.