This has got to stop. The majority of people in Oldham are law-abiding citizens

Riaz Ahmad, whose house was petrol-bombed

Ms Roche said rebuilding trust between the community, the police and the local authority would probably be a "long process".

But she said the government was "absolutely ready to assist" and denied that ministers did not know how to help.

"We need to look at local solutions," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "For local people to come together with the authority, with the police, to deal with these issues."

She also pointed out that Oldham would be receiving �10m within the next three years under a Neighbourhood Renewal fund.

Petrol-bomb

Deputy mayor Riaz Ahmad, 48, his wife, Safia, and their four children escaped unharmed from the blast early on Friday morning.

Barbara Roche: Trust must be rebuilt

But the house in Dennington Lane, Chadderton, sustained major damage in the attack, which police say was racially motivated.

Mr Ahmad, an accountant and magistrate, has been prominent in trying to bring Oldham's white and Asian communities together after last weekend's rioting.

Mr Ahmad appealed for calm after the attack, saying the Greater Manchester town did not "deserve" the unrest.

"This has got to stop. The majority of people in Oldham are law-abiding citizens.

"The community does not deserve this. I have been active all my life in condemning violence, whether it be from Asians against whites or vice-versa."

Mr Ahmad, set to become Oldham's first Asian mayor next year, represents the Alexandra ward, which includes Glodwick - the centre of last weekend's battles.

'Deplorable'

Fellow ward councillor Mohammed Azam described the attack as "deplorable and horrendous".

Riaz Ahmad has appealed for calm

He said: "It would seem this was obviously planned and not a spontaneous thing.

"We have been working hard with the Asian communities to find a way of getting things moving and this can only set it back and make things more difficult.

"I hope this will not inflame the situation but the signs don't look very good. I hope people will stay calm and let the police do their job."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack.

Richard Knowles, leader of Oldham Council, has written to Prime Minister Tony Blair asking for urgent help in dealing with the aftermath of the violence.

The letter, also signed by chief executive Andrew Kilburn and Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable David Wilmot, said there should be an early "wide ranging review" of the circumstances surrounding the disturbances.

'Significant arrests'

Mr Blair said he was "ready and willing" to take a personal interest in Oldham.

He said: "Race relations in this country have improved considerably. It is most unfortunate what has happened in Oldham.

"There is no possible excuse for people to attack the police or whip up racial trouble."

Police said that two "significant" arrests had been made in Oldham in connection with events leading up to last weekend's rioting.

A 37-year-old man and a woman aged 25, understood to be white and brother and sister, are being questioned over attacks on Asian premises in part of the town last Saturday.