Hundreds of protesters have called for more leniency over jail sentences given to those involved in last year's Bradford riots.

About 300 people gathered at St George's Hall in the city on Monday to say the sentences were too harsh.

But many residents believe even stronger sentences should have been handed out.

So far, more than 90 mainly Asian people have been sentenced to an average of four to five years in jail.

Families have previously claimed they were left in a desperate situation because many of those jailed were their main wage earners.

Protest group

They said the courts handed down harsh sentences to have a deterrent effect - and at least one relative has blamed post-11 September Islamaphobia.

They have formed a protest group called "Fair Justice for All" to state their case.

But Audrey Raistrick, the Secretary of the Ravenscliffe Estate Community Forum, said the sentences were not disproportionate.

"I think they deserve all they get," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"This isn't civil disobedience. This is rioting of the worst order.

"I have lived in Bradford 75 years. I was born and brought up in Manningham, I went to school in Manningham, I know the area very well.

"This sort of thing has been imported in and I don't approve of it.

'Shocking' segregation

"I am reflecting the views of a considerable number of people, and they think the sentences were too lenient."

During the violence last year, widely seen as the worst on mainland Britain in 20 years, up to 1,000 Asian and white youths hurled bricks, bottles and petrol bombs at police.

More than 300 officers were injured, and damage estimated at �25m was caused to the city.

Reports into the riot later blamed "shocking" community segregation as one of the root causes.