THE FUTURE is looking bright for Bradford's former Odeon building, according to a national body which champions theatres.

The Theatres Trust has used it as an example for others to follow of a cultural asset saved from oblivion.

Yesterday, the trust unveiled its 2015 register of theatres deemed to be 'at risk', with the Odeon among 31 buildings listed across the country.

But it said it was heartened by the continued efforts to secure a long-term future for the building.

Claire Appleby, architecture advisor for the trust, said: "It's a good news story. It wasn't that long ago that the Bradford Odeon was down to be demolished. It has been pulled from the brink of demolition."

She said there was "still a long way to go" for a refurbishment scheme, which was why the Odeon remained on the risk register.

The Odeon cinema closed in 2000 and its demolition and redevelopment was approved in 2009, despite protests from campaigners.

But this agreement was terminated in 2012, and Bradford Council bought the building for a nominal £1 sum a year later.

Since then, the organisation Bradford Live, led by Lee Craven, has been chosen to take on the building, with plans to turn it into a major live music venue. It is now seeking funding for the £14 million project.

The Council has also recently completed a £1.32 million repairs scheme, funded by the Homes and Communities Agency.

Leader of Bradford Council, Councillor David Green, said he was pleased that Theatres Trust had recognised the hard work that the Council, Bradford Live and the community of Bradford had put into trying to save the building.

He said: "The way the Council has responded to public concern, and used various levers to rescue the building from demolition, was a really good piece of work and the way we have since marketed it and supported the developer is again an example of how things can happen."

Mark Nicholson, secretary of the Bradford Odeon Rescue Group, said it showed communities should "stick to their guns" when important buildings were under threat.

He said: "It would be great for the Odeon to be a shining example to the rest of the country. People are always quite apathetic when they are told something's going to happen and the building is going to be demolished and your views don't matter, but in many ways it was public opposition and public support which went a long way to saving the Odeon."