Bradford Council has received praise and criticism from Government watchdog the Audit Commission which has given it a one star "fair rating" for the district's culture services.

Inspectors said the Council had learned more about improving services from the failed bid to become European Capital of Culture last year and from the riots in the city the previous year.

But the report said the council focuses more on the process of delivering the service than on what people want.

Authorities can gain a maximum of three stars for excellent and two stars for good.

The Council has been praised for its "clear ambitions" to improve its culture services, which include libraries, museums and heritage, sport, tourism, theatres, festivals and parks.

Portofolio holder Councillor Anne Hawkesworth - who is also singled out as a good ambassador for the service - said: "The inspectors clearly recognised the extra investment that we are putting into our cultural services. This has allowed us to improve significantly and develop better services.

"The Council has learned a great deal from the process of bidding to be European Capital of Culture and is using that information effectively to bring real benefits to the people in Bradford." But on the downside the Audit Commission inspectors said a history of underfunding meant lack of maintenance had led to the deterioration of a number of buildings. Marketing is described as weak and many buildings lacked public toilets, baby changing facilities and refreshment areas.

Overall 72 per cent of customers were satisfied with the service - a high proportion of these relating to museums, theatres and parks.

Strengths highlighted in the report include friendly and helpful staff and the clear systems in place to get feed- back from customers.

The inspectors also praised the redevelopment of Lister Park and Shipley swimming pool, as well as the extra funding which the Council had now put into the service. But they found although Ilkley had parks, gardens and its famous moor there were few indoor culture facilities provided by the Council and none had access for people with mobility problems.

The inspectors recommended the Council to carry out a wide ranging survey across the district on the cultural needs of all sections of the community.

Chairman of the regeneration and culture scrutiny committee Councillor Andy Mudd said his members were well aware of problems with the state of some of the buildings and the inspectors had got it "pretty spot on".