BRADFORD will once again welcome top scientists from across the country after it was announced the British Science Festival is returning to the city.

The annual festival was last held in Bradford in 2011, but before that it had been a century since it had been held here.

The wait for the next festival was much shorter this time, with organisers so impressed with the city they decided to have it host the 2015 festival at the University of Bradford next September.

Run by the British Science Association, the festival brings together more than 350 scientists for a week of "ground breaking science, technology and innovation" including workshops and discussions, and tens of thousands of visitors attend each year.

This year's event was held in Birmingham, and featured the unveiling of a dish washing robot and findings of a ground-breaking survey into Stonehenge being revealed.

Bradford first hosted the event in 1873, and 2015 will be the fourth time the city has been host. It will be sponsored by technology giant Seimens.

The city started its own science festival in 2012 after the success of the British festival's visit.

British Science Association chief executive, Imran Khan said: ‘’We are delighted to be returning to Bradford for the 2015 British Science Festival.

"The University of Bradford hosted an excellent Festival in 2011, and enjoys a brilliant legacy with the town now hosting its own annual science event. The British Science Festival provides a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the role and importance of science and innovation in our culture and society.”

Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Brian Cantor, said: "The University prides itself on its high-quality research and knowledge transfer activity and we look forward to hosting the festival next year alongside the ever popular Bradford Science Festival.”

The Festival has been the stage for many iconic moments in history – such as the famous debate on Darwin’s then controversial theory of evolution between Thomas Huxley and the Bishop of Oxford in 1860. It also saw the first use of the word ‘scientist’ in 1834.

Susan Hinchcliffe, executive for employment skills and culture on Bradford Council, said: "I'm delighted that the British Science Festival is coming back to Bradford.

"Bradford University was particularly keen to see it return due to their rising reputation and strength in this area. It's an excellent fit for Bradford given that we also have the Bradford Science Festival run by Space Connections in the city and have one of the Science Museum Group's Museums here."

The announcement has come only a few days before the University opens its new £1.5 million engineering laboratory in the School of Engineering and Informatics’ Horton Building on Thursday.

It contains equipment that can be used across the engineering disciplines, including civil, mechanical, fluid and chemical.