Villagers are to be asked for their views on a bid to 'bring home' a statue of Sir Titus Salt.

And if the project takes off, Saltaire's residents and business community will be asked to back the venture with cash.

Members of the Saltaire Project Team are hoping to get the 124-year-old statue, situated in Bradford's Lister Park, erected in the village.

And they have set 2003 - the bi-centenary of the Victorian industrialist's birth - as their target.

Carved from white Italian Carrarar marble, the ornate statue, a mini version of the Albert Memorial, has been in Lister Park since its move from outside Bradford's City Hall in the mid-1870s.

But it is hidden away in a corner of the park, where it has been targeted by vandals. Members of the project team believe it deserves a more prominent position in the village Sir Titus built for his mill workers.

The multi-agency project team has set up a special sub-committee to look at the idea in more detail and canvas local opinion.

Project team chairman Councillor Phil Thornton (Lab, Shipley East) said: "We're confident people will be behind us on this but there will be an extremely concentrated consultation exercise. It will be taken through the Neighbourhood Forums but we're also hoping to write to every resident in the area asking for their views.

"It should be stressed that it wouldn't be paid for out of public funds. The Council's strapped for cash and this wouldn't be seen as a priority. We'd apply for any grants but would also seek to raise the cash through subscriptions from local people, groups, businesses and anyone else prepared to contribute.''

Saltaire people are overwhelmingly in favour of bringing the statue to Saltaire, according to a Telegraph & Argus straw poll.

Saj Shah, of Saltaire Newsagents on Victoria Road, said: "I think this is where the statue belongs.''

Joan Ames said: "The park at Manningham's not connected with Salt at all.''

Pauline Wilson commented: "Some people say he haunts the place so he might rest at peace if the statue's brought here.''

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