City-centre traders have joined forces with Bradford Council to brighten up fashionable North Parade with a £35,000 lighting scheme.

A string of properties and businesses along the busy shopping parade will be floodlit to highlight their architectural features.

The buildings include the old Yorkshire Penny Bank, Christopher Pratts furniture and hi-fi store, Table Decor, Blues hair salon, Devonshire House and V2 and Bizkit fashion stores.

The scheme is being funded as part of the Council's Per Cent for Art policy which is aimed at encouraging public-art projects in the city.

Internal wiring work has been carried out and contractors are due to install a special lighting feature onto building frontages in the next few weeks.

The work is being co-ordinated by Council planners, and once complete property owners will be expected to meet the running costs of the lights.

Councillor Anne Hawkes-worth, executive member for the environment, said the lighting scheme would provide the finishing touch to a major Council improvement scheme in the North Parade area, which includes new paving and road-resurfacing work and the introduction of street furniture.

"I am delighted with the improvements to North Parade and the support shown by property owners and businesses," she said. "This part of the city centre is renowned for its stylish shops, impressive architecture and pleasant environment.

"The introduction of specialist lighting on buildings will make the area more attractive."

Table Decor spokesman Chris Becks said: "We've been very much involved in working with the Council on getting the lights scheme up and running.

"It will make the whole North Parade area much more attractive and widen the appeal for shoppers. It will also make the area safer for people coming into the town at night."

Other creative works funded by the Council's Per Cent for Art policy are being discussed for several city-centre schemes, including the Vicar Lane Leisure Exchange and the Provincial House development.