Families living in deprived Barkerend agreed £3 million should be pumped into Little Germany and the city centre, if they win a multi-million pound handout from the Government.

But the residents in one of Bradford's most deprived areas say they would still need £25 million - the lion's share of the award - to improve their standard of living.

The families decided the city centre and Little Germany should be included when they discussed the bid for funds from the Government's Single Regeneration Budget at a public consultation exercise.

Bradford North Area Panel - which covers the area - passed a resolution last week that the city centre should be excluded from the bid taking in Barkerend, Bradford Moor and Leeds Road.

Members of the panel said families were "living like animals" in bad conditions and needed every penny they could get.

A final decision on the draft bid will be made by the Council's Executive Committee tomorrow.

It includes turning shabby Leeds Road into a showcase trading area. There would also be environmental improvements and projects to bring jobs, training and better educational qualifications.

The programme, which would benefit 22,000 residents, would be spread over six years.

Councillor Ghanzafer Khaliq (Lab, Bradford Moor) said he was pleased the residents had agreed to some funding going to the city centre but it was important that most of it should go to the deprived areas.

Bradford North Area Panel chairman Coun John Ryan (Lab, Bowling) said: "It is clear the Council has listened to the concerns of the community by committing the biggest part of the bid to them. But it would be a matter of concern if it was less than £25 million."

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