A classic car businessman today told how he thought he had saved the Transperience vehicle collection for Bradford.

Nick Szkiler, director of Grundy Mack in Huddersfield, said his £900,000 offer was accepted, subject to contract, by the administrators Coopers & Lybrand last April.

But in frantic final bidding, the site was sold on Thursday in a near £1 million deal to developers Ogden Properties Ltd.

Ogden and Keighley company PS Turner (Contractor) Ltd, which owns land surrounding the Transperience site, said they will now work together on a major job creation scheme.

But Mr Szkiler said that he was still finalising his contract to buy the park when he was informed that Ogden had succeeded in its bid.

"Our rescue plan, which had the support of the original Transport Trust and local politicians, preserved the historic buses for the community in the form of a charitable trust,'' he said.

"We were effectively buying them to give back the people."

On Thursday, both Grundy Mack and Ogden were asked to make a final offer with a deposit to the administrators.

A spokesman for Coopers & Lybrand defended the move.

"It was our duty to look for the best deal for creditors," he said.

But Ogden and PS Turner are remaining tight-lipped about their exact intentions for the 16-acre site.

Ogden's Property Developer Tim Garnett said: "We intend to create local jobs and extend development to adjoining land."

Marketing manager Mike Smith, for Turner, said: "We are delighted for the new owners and look forward to working with them.

"We own land surrounding Transperience and although I cannot reveal our plans, you can be assured it will be a comprehensive project, provide jobs and boost the local economy."

Bradford Council has not yet received any planning applications for the venture.

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