A LISTED building which had stood empty and unloved for years has been turned into an upmarket salon, thanks to a business-boosting grant.

Husband-and-wife team Aiman and Yasmin Hamayel, of Thornbury, expanded their hair and beauty business Figaro's into the city-centre premises, creating three jobs.

The Grade II listed building, in Upper Millergate, falls within the Bradford city centre conservation area. It had previously been a bar, but had been left empty for some time,

"It was derelict," Mrs Hamayel said.

The renovation project was part-funded with a grant of about £50,000 from the City Centre Growth Zone.

Mrs Hamayel said: "That has really helped us. We have been able to do what we wanted, because we did have that additional help."

Yesterday, the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Mike Gibbons, officially opened the new salon.

He said: "As part of Bradford moving forward and the regeneration of the city, it is fabulous to see the creation of this wonderful new enterprise, particularly within a building that has not been used for some time.

"It exudes the quality of a salon in a major city like London, New York or Paris and to see that here in Bradford is superb."

Rashid Moghul, of JM Design and Planning, was planning agent for the scheme.

He said: "We worked quite closely with the Council's design and conservation team, because it is a listed building and it's in a conservation area.

"It was a long time in the making, but we have got there now.

"It has been done up to a very high standard. People say that Westfield is going to take the limelight away from Bradford city centre but I don't think this is the case, if we are getting projects like this."

David Robertson-Brown, director of Gumption Centres Ltd, works under contract for Bradford Council within the Bradford City Centre Growth Zone.

He said: "What they have produced is a beautiful scheme in a listed building and conservation area, so we are delighted for them and wish them well."

The City Centre Growth Zone is part of a £35 million initiative funded by Bradford Council and the Government's Regional Growth Fund, which is ending its capital grants programme this month.

About 50 new businesses - mainly independent ones - have been given start-up support and 16 investors have located businesses in the city centre.