Dozens of small businesses and organisations are looking for new premises after they claim they were "forced out" of rented offices in a flagship regeneration scheme.

They say they had no choice but to pack up by torchlight yesterday after the electricity to Woolston House, a former textile mill, was cut off.

The building had been transformed into an arts and business centre housing charities and start-up businesses.

Woolston House is owned by businessman Michael Abrahams, who is chairman of Kingston Communications in Hull, and of Minor Plant Systems in Leeds. It was being temporarily managed by Goitside Renaissance Ltd which was run by director David Scougall.

Mr Scougall said his firm did not want to continue managing the building because, he claimed, Mr Abrahams "did not speak" to him. Mr Scougall said he felt unable to do the job with "no remit".

He says he is now working from offices in the crisis-hit Priestley Centre, in Chapel Street, and trying to rescue the theatre.

The Telegraph & Argus was unable to contact Mr Abrahams to discuss the situation despite repeated and persistent attempts.

Four permanent staff in Woolston House, who were employed by Goitside Renaissance Ltd, claimed they were told by Mr Scougall at 10.30am yesterday they would no longer be needed and the company could not pay them at that stage.

The staff, who asked not to be named, said they were all "devastated." Mr Scougall said he had given staff prior warning and their pay was only due yesterday but he had been unable to sort it out or give staff their P45s because there was no electricity for the computers. "I shall be seeing my accountant and lawyer next week," he added.

Today Councillor Simon Cooke, Bradford Council's executive member for regeneration and deputy Council leader, demanded answers on what had gone wrong. "We need to know. I am very concerned."

One tenant said the electricity had gone off on Thursday and they had been told by the electricity supplier that it was because the bill had not been paid.

"The tenants collected about £15,000 to pay it but the electricity people told us they had been instructed not to restore it because we would be moving out," she said. "Now we have received letters saying the landlord is giving us 28 days to quit. There's a helpline and we can't even get a reply from it. But there is no way any of us can work with no electricity."

Mr Scougall said he had not been responsible for the notices to quit or been involved in the electricity problem