THE first two stone plaques have been carved as part of a project to mark the route of Bradford's hidden beck through the city centre.

Now sculptor Pat Walls has a dozen more to create ahead of the full route being installed by April next year.

It is part of a project organised by the Friends of Bradford's Becks (FOBB), where a total of 15 plaques will be placed in the pavement throughout the city, each one bearing one line from a specially-written poem.

The first two Welsh blue stone plaques, numbers 12 and 14, have been created and handed over to Westfield, developers of The Broadway shopping centre, which opens today.

A further plaque - number 13 - has been cast in bronze and installed in the East Mall of the new shopping centre.

FOBB chairman Barney Lerner said: "We are really pleased that the first plaque will be in place for all to see when Broadway opens. Two more plaques have been carved and are just waiting for the the contractors to get a few moments to put them in the pavements either side of Broadway.

"We then expect the remaining 12 to be made and installed over the winter, and for the whole route to be in place by April 2016."

One of the plaques was part of a crowdfunding campaign to raise £1,450, so it could be dedicated to the memory of the 56 people who died in the Bradford City fire disaster 30 years ago.

Colin Fine, owner of the Bradford Playhouse, and FOBB member, organised the funding bid, which managed to raise just over £800 online. Mr Fine said he also raised another £70, and would make up the shortfall himself, ensuring the dedication went ahead.

The slabs will be placed in pavements between Thornton Road, by the Odeon building, right through to Lower Kirkgate, past The Midland Hotel.

Sponsors include Anchor Housing, Bradford Live, British Land, Bradford Cinderella Club, Feature Radiators, Grattan, Napoleons, Rimmingtons, SafeStyle, Westfield and Yorkshire Water.

People will be encouraged to follow the route to read the full verse, which was selected following a public competition. Jane Callaghan, of Wilsden, was announced the winner earlier this year.

FOBB member Ed Butterworth added: “We are incredibly grateful to all our sponsors for making this dream come true and helping restore the beck to its central position in our history and consciousness.”