Almost £1 billion of Government money will flood into Bradford over the next three years.

City Hall accountants worked out the sum by adding up all the streams of Government funding now aimed at the district.

And Council chiefs say they will use the analysis to make the money work as hard as possible for the Bradford economy.

Funding experts looked at regeneration cash, transport money and other funding. It also includes the finance that comes in via bodies like Yorkshire Forward.

Council chiefs believe Bradford will get about:

l£330,000,000 in 2006-07

l£320,000,000 in 2007-08

l£280,000,000 in 2008-09

That's a total of around £930,000,000 between 2006-09

Patrick Wiggins, Bradford Council's director of regeneration, said the Council must get value for money. "These figures give a feel of the scale of the resources coming in through the public sector and which have an impact on the economy. If we could get more of that money 'lined up' just think of how powerful this might be," he said.

Mr Wiggins explained that 'lining up' means seeing the cash work as a whole - so different grants don't pull in different directions.

"It is surprising when you add it up - and this is about making the money work harder."

The figures were drawn up as part of Bradford's new Local Area Agreement with Government which means the district gets much of its money in one lump sum.

Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton (Con, Bingley Rural) welcomed the analysis. "It makes people realise the size of the operation that goes on in Bradford. We need to make sure we get the maximum benefit for each of those pounds and that may mean looking differently at how each of those investments is made."

Sandy Needham, chief executive of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, outlined the private sector's views on where the priorities should lie.

"Businesses want to see a number of areas addressed that this money could assist with. Ensuring that business support is stable, accessible and well delivered is important and we know that Bradford Council and Yorkshire Forward are working on that.

"Members want to see radical action taken on educational attainment levels in the district as well as seeing the pace of regeneration stepped up," she said.

"These actions can help improve Bradford's image which will bring greater benefits.

"Transport infrastructure, reducing congestion is also an ongoing issue where change is needed."