Planners in Bradford and Keighley have won top national awards for their developments.

The National Civic Trust has awarded commendations for the futuristic sculpture in St Blaise Square and Pear Tree Court housing development in Silsden.

Centenary Square and the Brian Lynch Memorial Park - known as Bradford by the Sea - have also received special mention in the prestige competition.

The district is continuing its winning trends after attracting about seven top national Civic Trust awards in the past ten years.

Places and buildings which have been recognised include historic Saltaire Village, Bradford Crown Court Square and the Paper Hall.

This year the district competed with 450 entries from all over the country seeking recognition.

The award scheme recognises excellence in all fields of environmental design, including architecture, landscape, planning and urban design.

The winners will be announced at a big awards ceremony tonight at the Royal Society of Arts, London, attended by Angela Eagle, under-secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

The futuristic Fibres sculpture was created by Cleckheaton artist Ian Randall.

It is the centrepiece of the new St Blaise Square built as part of the £35 million Foster Square Retail Park.

Ian said: "The sculpture represents the positive attitude of Bradford as we look forward to a better and brighter future for the city.''

Councillor John Ruding, a member of the selection panel which originally chose the artist's work for the site, said: "The sculpture was chosen as it was the most innovative thing while also fitting in well with the historic surroundings."

Pear Tree Court is set in a conservation area on the site of a derelict cotton mill complex comprising a mill building, a chapel, two listed cottages and various outbuildings.

The chapel is now restored to its original design of a Methodist chapel and converted into apartments.

Lyndon Palmer, chartered architects for the scheme, had to work to a brief which required a compact and secure development including the listed buildings.

The architects researched old records and photographs to bring the site back to life but retain its history.

The historic Wool Exchange, Bradford, was also short-listed for an award.

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