A LEADING banking official says the future is bright for Bradford after paying a visit to the city.

Andy Haldane, Bank of England chief economist, went to Dixons City Academy during a two-day visit to Yorkshire.

He was given a guided tour of the Ripley Street school and also held a lecture on economics to all of the school’s 165 year ten students and 20 of its sixth-formers yesterday.

Some of the students were interviewed by a film crew from Channel 4 News, which are due to be broadcast tonight.

He also visited Bradford’s £1.9million shopping scheme Sunbridgewells and spoke to charities and not-for-profit organisations.

His visit was part of a move by the Bank of England to speak to a wider cross-section of people from across the country.

In a speech given at the National Science and Media Museum, Mr Haldane said: “I am delighted to see civic and commercial investment beginning to return to Bradford over the past few years. Those scars are starting to heal.

“Compared with when I last visited a few years ago, there is now a real sense of opportunity and optimism in Bradford, lifting the spirits of the businesses operating here and the people living here.”

Shirley Watson, Dixons City Academy principal, said: “The students found Mr Haldane really engaging and interesting.

“He explained economics in a 40-minute lecture.”

Mr Haldane is also executive director for monetary analysis, research and statistics and a member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee. He also has responsibility for research and statistics across the bank.

In 2014, TIME magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.