Ilkley could cash in on Bradford's bid to become European Capital of Culture, according to the man behind the scheme.

Capital of Culture Campaign Director Paul Brookes believes that winning the bid would boost Ilkley's tourist figures by 15 per cent.

"The town will be playing an important role in the bid because of its attractions, events and restaurants." said Paul.

"In the Bradford district there is a real range of land and places within the vale and Ilkley, obviously in terms of the surrounding lands, is a gateway to the dales and the lakes. People visit to see the shops and it has some great restaurants from Betty's to The Box Tree.

"The tourist trade is very important and if we win the bid then there is a predicted increase in tourism of 15 per cent a year."

The theme of the district's bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2008 is 'One Landscape Many Views' and as part of an advertising campaign for it the Cow and Calf Rocks have made the shortlist for the region.

Pictures of famous sites across the district will be transformed into Hockney-inspired pictures made up of mosaics of resident's faces.

The faces picked to be used on the pictures will be taken from the ones which have been sent in with people's ideas on how the district can be improved.

The Alhambra theatre and Salts Mill are other attractions which are also being considered.

In 2008 a city in the United Kingdom will hold the title of European Capital of Culture. So far 14 other cities have entered.

Mr Brookes has experience in winning bids, having brought the 1998 Year of Photography and the Electronic Image to Yorkshire and now he feels Bradford is in with a winning chance.

Following this success he established The Culture Company in 1999, a cultural agency which delivers strategic partnerships and projects in visual arts, public art and festival events.

With a background of success in producing winning bids and promoting art and culture, does he think Bradford can actually do it?

"I think out of the 14 cities which have entered we will be one of the top five contenders along with Birmingham, Belfast, Liverpool and Newcastle/Gate-shead," he said.

"We have a good chance because we have a lot to offer. The Bradford district is unique in that it comprises both urban and rural areas."

If Bradford does succeed in the bid, then it will be up there with the previous European winners, such as the first winner, Athens, in 1985, Copenhagen in 1996, Rotterdam in 2001 and Glasgow in 1990, the only UK city so far.

Bradford decided to enter in 2000 following the 2020 Vision debate, which drew up a blueprint of the future of the district until 2020 and an action plan which included bidding for European Capital of Culture status.

The deadline for the bid to be submitted is March 31 this year and the entries will then be assessed by an independent panel appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell.

A shortlist will be drawn up in September 2002 and a final decision on the outright winner will be taken by the Government in March 2003.

The designation European Capital of Culture will be formally approved by Europe later in 2003. The bid aims to help change people's perceptions of the Bradford district to emphasise the importance of many of its attributes, from the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television to the Cow and Calf Rocks and White Wells.

"Ilkley is a very cultural place with the literature festival, the playhouse and the Cow and Calf Rocks, which could be a great venue to hold an event," said the former film producer. "We are exploring many possibilities. People want something different and Ilkley can offer them this."

"We still want people to submit their ideas on what they would like improved in their areas, from play schemes to events they would like to see taking place. The Bradford district is bidding for this on behalf of the Yorkshire region and we have the support of Leeds."

Ideas can be submitted through the post or on-line and entries received will get a special Hockney-inspired Capital of Culture lapel badge.

They are wanting ideas on three themes - textile and telecommunications, building bridges and light, colour, water and music.

Mr Brookes intends for the bid to change the attitudes towards Bradford and attract more businesses to the area. "Everybody thought Glasgow was a dump before they won the bid and now it isn't and they don't. The same can happen in Bradford and the campaign will highlight all the good things the area has to offer."

Bradford has also been chosen as the host city for three events where representatives from former winning cities give talks to the contestants so they can avoid pitfalls.

The bidding cities will have to answer eleven questions including the concept of 'culture' for their city, how it fits within a European context, what its themes and objectives are and what organisation will be involved.

The issues of ensuring local commitment and participation from under-represented groups, the imaginative means they would employ to increase dissemination of various events and what they envisage the long-term outcome of the event to be will be addressed.

Along with the city's cultural, transport and tourist infrastructure and the potential of the historic heritage, urban architecture and quality of life in the city.