People walking past the site of Bradford's proposed Broadway shopping centre could have been forgiven for a moment of excitement.

For the hoardings which have surrounded the site for several years were being taken down yesterday one by one by a group of eager workmen. But anticipation that building work might be beginning was short-lived as it was revealed that the hoardings were to be re-erected almost immediately.

The workmen were merely moving the boards ten yards further away from the road to make more space for pedestrians and a bus layby on Hall Ings, according to a spokesman for Westfield, the Australian company behind the £300 million Broadway scheme.

"They are Council contractors who are moving a hoarding in order to make a bus layby more convenient. It's not anyone starting on site," said the spokesman.

Business owners and residents in the city are keen to see contractors start building work, but more tenants must sign up before Westfield can start work.

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