Deprived areas of inner-city Bradford could be next in line for a Government cash boost, it was revealed today.

A high-speed scheme is now being prepared by Bradford Council in the hope of snapping up more cash from next year's Single Regeneration Budget.

The Government has now announced that the scheme will continue.

Council leader Councillor John Ryan, said today the likely target would be the inner city and could include areas like Horton Grange, which has huge unemployment levels. But the message from Charles Forgan, secretary of Bradford Congress which represents the district's leading organisations, was that it would have to be prepared quickly to meet the deadline which could be in September.

The officers are back at the drawing board just 24-hours after the announcement that Manningham and Girlington had won £9.7 million SRB cash.

The project which will create 684 jobs over the next six years is expected help 1,941 people to get qualifications and training.

It was given a big welcome today by parents at Westbourne First School who already help their youngsters with reading and lessons.

They were told by Industry and Trade Minister, John Battle, when he visited the school yesterday, that he would like schools across Britain to echo their example.

The SRB project will aim to get jobs for young people through systems geared to help them from birth to the age of 25.

It will include an early years centre for excellence and stepping up nursery education.

The project recognises the problems which start with children having language and reading difficulties when they first go to school.

Bushra Khatoon, of Virr Road, who has children aged eight and five, said: "It's very good news. Young people really need to do well and get jobs."

Parent, Tasadwar Bi, said she sometimes learned from her youngster when he came home with songs and information.

Khadija Fiaz, who lives near Oak Lane, Manningham, is a trained reading partner at the school. She said: "I think it is very important. I just hope we can get money and improve things for the younger generation."

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