Work has begun on a major scheme to save the city's showpiece theatre from flooding with sewage.

The £250,000 project is being carried out this month at Bradford's Alhambra Theatre by a team of Yorkshire Water engineers.

In the past performances have had to be cancelled at the last minute after heavy rain sent a deluge of water flooding into the building - filling the dressing rooms, cellar, toilets and orchestra pit with sewage.

The last time it happened was in April 1998 when the opening night of West Side Story turned into an impromptu performance of Singing In The Rain as thunderstorms flooded the theatre. The water wrecked thousands of pounds' worth of electrical equipment.

The flood alleviation scheme is scheduled to be finished in time for the opening night of the theatre's biggest and longest-running show, Phantom of the Opera.

The main sewer outside the stage door in Randall Street will be disconnected from the public network and reconnected to another part of the system outside Bradford Central Police station.

Yorkshire Water has been in discussions with local traders and the police about the timing of the scheme and say it will cause little disruption to motorists and the general public.

A spokesman said: "We will be using a system called pipe-jacking. It enables us to force the pipes under the ground rather than digging trenches in the road.

"It takes a little longer, and costs a lot more but we thought it was well worth it. Digging up the main road would have caused chaos for motorists, workers in the city centre and visitors."

Bradford Councillor Barry Thorne, an executive member of the Council's culture, heritage and leisure committee, said he was delighted the work will be completed in time for the opening of Phantom of the Opera on April 1.

Project manager John Beaumont said: "Once the work is completed the theatre won't be at risk from any further flooding, which I know will delight the orchestra!"

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