A high-quality Asian shopping complex, expected to draw visitors from all over the North of England, could be opened in Bradford.

And business leaders from the Asian community say it could be a boost for the city. It would include restaurants and shops selling items like food, and clothes, jewellery and crafts.

A study carried out by outside consultants for Bradford Council shows communities favour such a scheme.

And today past president of Bradford Chamber of Trade, Mary Frame, said:"It sounds a very good idea, and I think it's just the thing to go with Bradford's title as the Curry Capital."

She said the Bombay Store, close to the city centre, had already proved a magnet for shoppers and visitors.

The study by consultants DTZ Pieda included a shopping survey to establish potential spending demand and opinions on local shopping needs for Asian produce.

The findings -- to be reported to the council's economic strategy sub-committee on Tuesday - show traders and shoppers would favour an edge-of-town location, but that existing Asian shopping areas could also offer scope for any development.

Representatives from the Asian business community were consulted about their views and say they believe it could be good for communities, as well as visitors.

The centre could be similar to a complex in Leicester, which has proved a big attraction.

Dr Gul-Nawaz Akbar, managing director of Mumtaz Food Industries, said it was a good idea but needed to be well planned.

"It's a brilliant concept and it would be very popular," he said. "It would need to be well managed and then I'm sure it would do the city a lot of good."

Shamas Haq, director of the Pakeezah Asian superstore and restaurant on Leeds Road, said the scheme would be a boon for the tourism industry as well as Bradford residents.

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