Historic new national guidelines to build co-operation between Christians and Muslims are due to be unveiled.

They have been drawn up by the Deobandi Association of Muslim Scholars of Britain (JUB) and Church of England working party.

They acknowledge that the faiths' mutual perceptions of each other are often built on ignorance and a difficult international situation.

And they state: "We are determined not to allow international relations - over which we have no direct control - to dictate how we relate to each other in our cities as British citizens.

"British Muslims are no more responsible collectively for such terrorist atrocities as those committed in London on July 7, 2005, than British Christians are for the excesses of western foreign policy."

Dr Philip Lewis, interfaith adviser to the Bishop of Bradford, described the guidelines as a milestone between the two religions.

He said: "This is an historic first, and it's very encouraging that these guidelines have been produced in the present climate. We've long had relations at city-wide level, but relations have to move to local areas, where we live together."

Ishtiaq Ahmed, of Bradford Council of Mosques, said: "This is a tremendously important step. There are still a lot of reservations between the two faiths and people must realise the need for faith leaders to be seen to be working together.

"We hope this will set a positive example."

The Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend David James, said: "Bradford is a very appropriate place to host the signing of the guidelines because in the city there are many examples of Christian and Muslim leaders working in partnership."

The Bishop is signing the guidelines with Mufti Aslam, president of JUB, at Bradford City Hall.

By Paddy McGuffin