A company which moved into a major city centre store in Broadway in June is to leave - but will not relocate in Bradford.

The Home Express furnishing clearance superstore moved into the former C&A shop when Next Clearance vacated it last May.

But superstore boss Naresh Kumar, pictured, said: "Trade has not been good. This part of the city is blighted. We would have liked to stay in Bradford but we are moving out in March."

Stores and offices are already quitting the area where widescale demolition is due to take place to make way for the planned £200 Broadway shopping scheme.

A number, including British Home Stores, are relocating into the development. Auto Design Technics is among others moving elsewhere in Bradford and going to Canal Road.

The Home Express superstore is one of only two operating in Yorkshire by the Wolverhampton-based company. The other is in Leeds.

Mr Kumar said he would be involved in the opening of a new store in London but the jobs of the 20 staff - some part time - were uncertain.

The Forster Square Development Partnership has said its plans to begin the demolition of the Broadway area of the city in the first half of this year remain unchanged despite a recent setback.

Government regeneration agency Yorkshire Forward refused extra funds toward the developers' contribution for new city centre road schemes needed for the Broadway development.

But the developers say the shopping scheme will still go ahead and they expect a major retail investor to join them in a 50-50 joint venture.