THE director of Bradford Live has issued a statement following a fire at the former Odeon building this morning. 

Fire crews were called to the scene in Bradford city centre at around 10.40am. 

Smoke could be seen coming from one of the building's domes.

Lee Craven, Director of Bradford Live, said the fire is now out and nobody is hurt.

He said: “A fire broke out this morning in the roof space below the dome of the south turret.

"Fortunately, the fire was localised and has been contained by the fire service, who arrived promptly on the scene.

"The fire is now out and no one has been hurt.

"We will give an update as soon as we have further news.”

The Bradford Live project was one of the venues in the district on the itinerary for the City of Culture 2025 judges.

The former cinema and theatre has been empty for over two decades, but the Bradford Live project will see the building turned into a 3,800 live music venue.

Bradford Live has a long-term lease from the building owner, Bradford Council, and has an agreement in place to sublease it to the NEC Group as operator in what is a 30-year deal.

Opening in 1930 as the New Victoria, the building changed its name to The Gaumont in 1950. For three decades after 1969, the building operated as an Odeon cinema and Top Rank bingo club, before finally closing its doors in 2000.

Faced with demolition, a grass-roots campaign group fought successfully to save the building, with Bradford Live taking up the challenge in 2012 to find a long-term viable use for the iconic Bradford building.