Bradford's Kirkgate Centre is to open seven days a week from August 31 in a bid to entice more shoppers.

Kirkgate Centre manager Catherine Riley said Bradford needed Sunday shoppers to compete with neighbours Leeds.

"More and more towns and cities have introduced seven-day shopping to meet customer needs," said Mrs Riley.

"If Bradford wants to be taken seriously as a shopping destination, it has to respond and trade every day. If it doesn't, it will be missing an important business opportunity."

Selected stores within the Kirkgate Centre will open from Sunday August 31, including retailers Argos, All Sport, Bay Trading, MK1, New Look, River Island and WH Smith.

"Obviously seven day shopping will take a while to become established but we hope that as we move towards the Christmas period, the majority of shops will open and then continue to trade into the New Year and beyond," she said.