A business chief is going for an all-out bid to make Bradford a true 24-hour city.

Fazal Hussain, chairman of Bradford's Asian Business For-um and the Trades' Association of Asian restaurant owners, is taking the lead with his nightclub.

He has submitted an application to Bradford Council for an entertainments licence to run from 10am to 10am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Mr Hussain is following in the footsteps of the Boilerhouse which was granted a licence until 9am. But he is the first to want to open around the clock.

Today, Mr Hussain called for other businesses to join in and make Bradford a city which was open all hours.

He said: "It is the only way we can survive. We must stop the business which is going to Leeds. I think more and more services should be kept open in Bradford.

"We want to be able to offer as many facilities as possible and I think businesses should be able to carry on as much as possible."

Mr Hussain has asked for the entertainments licence for his Nexus bar in Great Horton Road.

The entertainments licence currently runs until 3am.

Chairman of the Council's regeneration committee Councillor Dave Green said the authority had made it clear it supported a 24-hour city.

But he added that individual businesses must take their own decision about whether later or earlier opening would be viable.

But chairman of Bradford Inner City Licensing Associa-tion David Haigh said the key was public transport and the city had died over Christmas when buses did not operate.

He added that taxi drivers also charged more when there was more demand.

A spokesman for First Brad-ford said it did not agree that the city had died when buses came to a halt. But it would talk to businesses and see whether the demand for buses was there.

Mr Hussain will tell the Council's licensing committee on Wednesday that his premises will hold about 300 people and security is strict.

He says he is prepared to join the Drugs Watch Scheme run by police and the Council and has introduced free access to cold, fresh water at all times.

He says a 'Chill Out' area with seating and adequate air conditioning will be provided and two thirds of the staff will be qualified first aiders.

Mr Hussain says they are even considering the introduction of closed circuit television.

West Yorkshire Police will tell the committee that they have no objection to the extension as long as the premises joins Drug Watch.

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