Watch out Blackpool - Bradford intends to have its own illuminations for the Millennium.

"Painting the city in light" is just one of a myriad of ideas to come from talks aimed at making Bradford the focus for the nation's multi-cultural celebrations in the year 2,000.

Organisers plan to ask artist David Hockney to help project pictures on to the architecture using light, which is a central symbol for all the major religions. Then it is hoped the lights would become a major visitor attraction for the city in the 21st Century.

Members of Bradford Cathedral, Bradford Council, Bradford Festival's directors and other interested parties had brainstorming sessions to find ideas for an application for cash from the Millennium Festivals fund.

The National Faith Heritage Centre in front of Bradford Cathedral is already scheduled to open at Easter in the year 2,000.

Now the groups are working on a draft bid to put to the Millennium Commission in the summer - possibly as early as May.

It is not clear how much funding the city will be seeking.

Other ideas include establishing a woodland trail into Bradford city centre by planting thousands of new trees.

Cathedral Canon Geoff Smith said: "There are some very imaginative ideas to enable the Millennium to be celebrated in Bradford but all of these ideas will need future work and financing."

Allan Brack and Mark Fielding, who put together the Bradford Festival each year, have provided inspiration for the bid.

Their plans include extending the Bradford Mela to run for a week and developing a week-long Youth Arts Festival.

Mr Brack said: "This is a real chance for Bradford to do something very, very special."

He said with a basic outline of events in place, next year should be spent concentrating on how each organisation and individual can get involved.

"It's absolutely feasible that Bradford will be the place to be in the Millennium," he added.

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