A tournament dinner was held in Bradford to mark the 25th anniversary of the Valley Parade fire disaster this evening.

Guests including religious leaders and politicians turned out for the event at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Bingley.

They included the Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend David James, and Bradford Council chief executive Tony Reeves. Jane Glaister, director of culture, tourism and sport for Bradford Council, also attended, as did Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe, MP for Bradford South.

The tournament is sponsored by the Prison Officers Association and Bradford Council in memory of the 56 people who died in the fire at the Bradford Valley Parade Football Stadium on May 11, 1985. The tournament has taken place every Easter weekend since with the theme ‘Friendship through Football’.