Two decades ago David Puttnam's multi Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire prompted a warning to Hollywood that "The Brits are Coming."

Triumphantly clutching his best picture Oscar, the movie producer, pictured, sang the praises of the British film industry and told Hollywood we were on our way back to the top.

Now he is turning his attention to putting Yorkshire on the international map, throwing his weight behind Bradford's bid to be European Capital of Culture 2008.

Lord Puttnam's world-wide success with Chariots of Fire in 1981 marked a turn in fortunes for British cinema.

The film was a huge critical and commercial success and showed the world the Brits were capable of making big budget movies worthy of Hollywood-style success.

Now Lord Puttnam - one of Britain's leading film producers and the only Englishman to run a Hollywood film studio - is bringing his Midas touch to Yorkshire.

His role as chairman of Bradford's Capital of Culture Board is a major coup for the district. The board, made up of representatives from Bradford organisations, will spearhead the bid which must be submitted to the Government by March 31.

Arriving at City Hall to meet the board, Lord Puttnam is clearly delighted at being in the city he loves and has maintained links with over recent years.

"It's great to be here," he beams. "Every time I'm here I look at places like this magnificent building and the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television and think there is so much in this city to be proud of."

Hollywood hotshot and Peer of the Realm he may be, but this is a man who is at home in Bradford. He says he is honoured to chair the board and when he is here he is a Bradfordian.

He says Bradford's cultural diversity gives it a "unique advantage" in its battle to win the culture title, which he sees as a chance for the district to show the rest of the world what it is made of.

He also sees it as a way of rebuilding Bradford's fragmented community relations, damaged after the city's riots this summer.

"What Bradford has to prove is a microcosm of what the whole country has to prove right now - that different communities can work together," he said.

"We know Bradford has suffered unrest this year. But it has a wealth of diverse cultures which can and do work together in a positive way. This bid will help with that."

He refuses to accept that Bradford is an "underdog" and is inspired by the input of its people, who have been coming up with ideas for the culture bid since it was announced that Bradford would be running.

"Bradford is up against some stiff competition, but what encourages me is that this bid is being built around the imagination and energy of people from across the district," said Lord Puttnam.

"That shows there is pride here. I am struck by this pride every time I come to Bradford. Now is the time for people to focus on that.

"The benefits will be far-reaching, not just in terms of what the bid will bring into Bradford, but how it will reflect what is good about this place.

"At the end of the day the objective is to win. The communities of Bradford need to keep that clearly in mind and work together towards it."