A Bradford councillor has accused station authorities of putting lives at risk during a bomb scare in the city centre.

Army bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion on a suspect package on a platform roof at the Interchange on Thursday.

But Councillor Tony Niland - a former soldier - said he was appalled that the area was not cleared for two hours after the alarm was raised.

"They didn't want services disrupted. They're putting profit before people's safety," he claimed.

But British Transport Police and rail operator Northern Spirit have hit back strongly, saying public safety was paramount at all times.

Coun Niland (Lab, Wyke) pledged to take the matter further with the authorities.

Security guards became worried about a package on the roof of a platform at about 10am but British Transport Police did not clear the bus and train station until almost two hours later, when the bomb squad arrived.

They carried out the controlled explosion at 12.37pm and searched the station before it was reopened.

British Transport Police are responsible for security on the country's railways. Chief Inspector Graham Breeze was the senior officer in charge of the situation after transport police were alerted by station staff to the suspect package.

He said he could not reveal operational details of why the station was not cleared.

"It was dealt with professionally, following normal procedures," he said.

Northern Spirit is the train operator which has responsibility for the rail side of the Interchange complex.

Howard Keal, company spokesman, said: "We acted on the instructions of the British Transport Police at all times with full regard for the safety of passengers.

"Officers assessed the situation and platforms three and four were taped off. We were advised it was safe to use platforms one and two. Train running did continue and passengers were well away from where the package was discovered by maintenance contractors.

"We were asked to evacuate the station at 11.41am and that was achieved in less than two minutes.

"The station remained evacuated until we were given the all-clear by British Transport Police to resume normal service at 1.55pm."

A spokesman for Metro, West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, which has responsibility for the bus station at the Interchange, said Metro was on stand-by and acted on the British Transport Police's instructions. Evacuation was carried out as soon as it was demanded.

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