Enforcement officers have stepped in over concerns the historic interior of a grade II-listed Bradford pub is being ripped out without permission.

The Cock and Bottle in Barkerend Road is described as “a late Victorian gem with one of the finest interiors of its type in the north of England” by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra).

Its owner Aftab Ali has applied to Bradford Council for planning permission and listed building consent to turn the vacant pub into a restaurant for which a decision has yet to be made.

But the local Camra branch has contacted the Council raising concerns that the pub’s protected fittings were being pulled out.

Planning enforcement officers have now told Mr Ali not to carry out further works to the building, warning him that to do so would be a criminal offence.

Councillor Geoff Reid (Lib Dem, Eccleshill), a Camra member, said a bar, seating and the wall to a ‘snug’ room had already been removed and called for them to be reinstated.

He also criticised the Council planners for their “disgraceful failure” to protect the pub’s interior.

Mr Ali, however, has described Camra’s complaint as a “witch hunt”.

He denied that a bar had been demolished during his ownership of the building, but he said a wall had been removed for safety reasons.

He said he had a good relationship with conservation officers and that he invited them to the pub about once a fortnight.

He said: “I have worked closely with Bradford Council’s conservation and planning teams, who I have to say have been very professional, efficient and effective in ensuring that the building’s areas of special interest are preserved and enhanced.

“The building has not been altered in any material manner whilst it has been in my ownership.”

Mr Ali said the pub’s original features would be an integral part of the planned restaurant, and that people in the area wanted to see the building restored and reopened.

He said: “I must also remind the councillor and Camra that the building had been left abandoned for nearly two years before I purchased it.”

Planning officers have confirmed some of the interior features have been removed, but are unable to say when this happened.

Chris Eaton, development manager at Bradford Council, said: “We have written to the owners to tell them that no further work is to take place pending the outcome of this application.”