Contractors are expected to move on to a city centre car park within a fortnight to begin work on a massive leisure centre.

Spaces at Vicar Lane car park will be open during the initial site works and cars can be parked as normal.

But the 600-space car park will be cleared when the expected main construction programme begins in summer.

Today Bradford Council promised motorists would get full information before the date.

The Council said it will provide a temporary car park in Thornton Road, with a bus shuttle service to and from the city centre for motorists when Vicar Lane shuts.

The proposed multi-million pound leisure centre will include a 16-screen multiplex cinema, a 40,000 sq ft health and fitness club, family entertainments centre - including ten-pin bowling - a 90-bed hotel and bars and restaurants. There would also be a 1,000-space multi-storey car park.

Developers J J Gallagher are also about to open a multi-million pound leisure centre at Thornbury, with an Odeon multiplex cinema.

The £40 million Vicar Lane scheme follows two failed attempts by other developers.

J F Finnegan pulled out two years ago because of funding problems and millionaire Eddie Healley's company - The Stadium Group - dropped its scheme last year.

J J Gallagher announced last month that it had signed up cinema operator Cine-UK to run the 65,000 sq ft multiplex. The company operates 13 cinema complexes across the country, with a further 11 under construction.

Councillor Dave Green, Executive Committee member for regeneration, said: "I am delighted to see that agreement has been signed which will see activity starting on the site very soon.

"This prestigious development will provide a real economic boost for the city centre and bring multiplex entertainment to the people of Bradford."

Paul Cross, managing director of J J Gallagher, said it was delighted to have finalised the agreement for the sale of the car park with the Council. "We will continue to work closely with the Council on the successful delivery of our construction programme and it will include secure car parking facilities," he said.

He added Vicar Lane would complement the company's multi-screen cinema at Thornbury which would open in June.

"Cine-UK are just the first of a number of major leisure operators that we are confident of signing up for the Vicar Lane development."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.