Hundreds of leather-bound books from the 19th Century have been returned to their rightful home in the Lord Mayor's chambers at City Hall.

More than 300 books, dating back to the 1880s and which used to be housed at Bradford Central Library, have been given pride of place in their new home at City Hall.

The books have all been donated to the city by former Lord Mayors and their families over the years and had been housed at the library, but as extra space was wanted to accommodate a new archive section, a new home was needed.

Library and information officer Susan Caton said: "These books have been in the collection of Bradford local studies library for well over 20 years now. We did have a wonderful large cabinet they lived in, but now that we needed to find room for the archive department, we no longer had the room for these books, so it was decided as they were the Lord Mayor's books and given by past Lord Mayors of Bradford and their families it would be nice if they could come back home."

The books, which are traditionally bound and gilded, have been given pride of place in the Lord Mayor's chambers - much to the pride and appreciation of the city's present Lord Mayor.

Councillor Choudhary Rangzeb admitted he had not yet managed to read any of the books, but had found time to flick through a couple of them.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted the library service found these books at the Central Library and thought it would be more fitting for them to be in the Lord Mayor's chambers.

"I am very proud that they have been returned to their proper home and they look absolutely magnificent."

The books are mainly Victorian and cover topics from the history of England to the French Revolution.

"Bradford's Central Library have done a great job in looking after the books, but I am so pleased that they are now back in City Hall to be preserved for future generations," said Coun Rangzeb.

e-mail: sunita.bhatti@bradford.newsquest.co.uk