A memorial stone has been placed in West Bowling in time for the 120th anniversary of Bradford's "forgotten" tragedy, the Newlands mill disaster.

About 40 people watched as the Lord Mayor, Councillor Richard Wightman, and Maurice Lumb, pictured, a relative of one of those killed, unveiled a plaque paying tribute to the victims.

On December 28, 1882, 54 people, most aged from eight to 21, died when a 255ft mill chimney collapsed. Another 70 were hurt.

Mr Lumb, 83, whose aunt Ellen was one of those killed, said it was an emotional occasion.

He said: "I am so pleased that we will finally have something to remind us of the people who suffered so terribly.

"My other aunt Clara was left bedridden by the disaster. Everyone was affected by it."

Local historian Alan O'Day Scott has been campaigning for a memorial since discovering reports of the disaster in old copies of the Telegraph & Argus.

He said: "The Newlands Mill disaster was the forgotten chapter in Bradford's history.

"But with this wonderful memorial stone and plaque we have now restored this terrible tragedy to its rightful place in Bradford's local history, ensuring none of the victims will ever be forgotten."

The 5ft architectural stone, taken from the Bradford canal, has been placed on the corner of St Stephen's Road and Gaythorne Road, 200 yards from the former mill's entrance on Ripley Street.

The £1,000 project has been funded by Bradford Trident as part of the St Stephen's Road landscaping scheme.

The 4,000 tonne boiler-house chimney had continually suffered from structural problems. Within ten years of its construction a huge bulge had appeared and masonry was beginning to fall from the structure.

The disaster happened at 8.10am during the morning shift break; if it had been an hour earlier, when the mill was full, many more could have been killed.

Unveiling the plaque Coun Wightman told the crowd that the period in which the mill was operating had helped to create what Bradford had become today.

He said: "We are here to honour the contribution that these workers and the people of their time made in transforming Bradford from a collection of villages into a thriving city."

An earlier unmarked commemorative stone taken from a piece of the chimney had been placed near the former site of the mill but disappeared years ago.