Bradford's first dazzling aquabatics display will be a main part of the Christmas attractions as the city prepares its bid to become European Capital of Capital.

The dramatic display will involve six fountains "dancing" to lights in a feature to be installed outside City Hall by specialists.

Centenary Square will also be transformed into a huge ice rink where people will be able to watch shows, hire skates from a log cabin and learn the sport with experienced coaches.

The winter wonderland will open after Yorkshire comedian and pantomime star Billy Pearce switches on hundreds of Christmas lights in the city centre on November 29. Players from Bradford City Football Club and Bradford Bulls Rugby League Club will join pantomime stars and VIPs on the platform.

A massive fireworks display will also be part of the extravaganza which will launch Bradford's bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Billy Pearce, who is set to star in the Alhambra pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, will switch on hundreds of Christmas lights and the special effects show at 7pm. But the big night, which will involve live bands, music from DJs and competitions, will start at 6pm.

The 300-metre-square synthetic ice rink will take several days to install and be open from December 3 to 26.

Paul Brookes, European Capital of Culture campaign director, said the event would be one of a number of launching pads for the bid due to be submitted to the Government in March.

"Huge-profile public events will be an important factor to a successful bid," he said.

"Shows such as this provide an important opportunity for civic celebration. Public events have a key part to play in promoting Bradford's strong case for this prestigious title."

Meanwhile, former Bradford Chamber of Commerce president Judith Donovan CBE had some rousing words on the Capital of Culture bid at a Chamber Council meeting yesterday.

Listing the district's wide-ranging cultural attractions, Mrs Donovan told the meeting: "We have such an awful lot going for us, even before we put a bid together, but we have to make sure we package it properly and then we'll have a real chance. This must be a people's bid - heritage can be about dead books, dead museums, dead paintings if we're not careful. Bradford's strength has always been its people."

Chamber president John Pennington summed up a mood of quiet confidence.

"When it was first mooted in this city everybody laughed," he said.

"People might be smiling at the moment but I think we can come back from behind and have a good chance of winning it."

Bradford must offer a year of world class events if it is to win the title in 2008. It is in competition with major cities including Liverpool. A successful bid would bring tens of thousands of jobs and millions of pounds in investment.

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