BRADFORDIANS got the chance to see a city square in a new light as artists and dancers brought it to life with some colourful performances.

Arts organisation The Brick Box specialises injecting some culture into "under-used spaces" and on Saturday evening they did just that in Oastler Square, noted for a statue of Victorian labour reformer Richard Oastler.

Artists used interactive illuminations, dance, drawing and puppetry to entertain a few hundred people over the course of the evening, including drinkers in nearby North Parade.

The artists included Fabric Lenny, Lou Sumray, Chemaine Cooke, James Islip and the Peace Artistes.

A similar Little Light Night event is taking place in Ivegate, Bradford city centre, on Saturday, October 24 from 6pm to 10pm.

Rosie Freeman, director of The Brick Box, which has a base in Bradford, said Oastler Square was chosen as it was sometimes overlooked.

She said: "One of the things that Bradford city centre could do help with is to encourage people to spend time in the city centre in the evening and to feel safe.

"We want to encourage people to spend time in a positive way. It's about 'play' in the streets and is for all ages. It is suitable for all ages and is totally free."

Enjoying the show were Barbara Howerska and Mark Guest who have been enjoying the renaissance of North Parade.

Ms Howerska said arts events such as Little Light Night were about "reclaiming the area" from anti-social elements.

"We now have a cross-section of the community coming for drinks. The resurgence of North Parade has made a big difference."

Drinks on the evening were provided by the The Sparrow bar and The Record Cafe, 'rival' bars who worked together on the project.

Les Hall, joint owner of The Sparrow, said: "We are two businesses on North Parade working together. I am a massive fan of that."

A few drinkers from The Sparrow were tapping their toes to the Little Light Night musicians.

Mr Hall added: "When we opened we were the only place on here; now there are half a dozen bars. These events are good for the night time economy and business is good. As a city there is still a lot we can achieve but we are making a massive amount of progress."

Keith Wildman, owner of The Record Cafe, said Oastler Square was ordinarily "somewhere you just walk through".

"Something like this makes you look at it literally in a new light. We can do something with the enthusiasm of the people behind it."

Yvonne Carmichael, who was taking photos at the event, said: "It's good to get people into Bradford city centre. There is something bubbling up with lots of different businesses opening up in North Parade in particular. It's good there are some positive stories coming out of the city now."

The Little Light Night events have been sponsored and supported by a range of organisations including Bradford Council, Bradford University and Arts Council England.