BRADFORDIANS are being asked to share their photographs and memories of the Kirkgate Shopping Centre to mark its 40th anniversary.

The retail venue opened in 1976 as the Arndale Centre following a £4 million investment. It was dubbed Bradford’s "space-age shopping centre" and later became the Kirkgate Centre.

Today it remains the home of more than 70 retail units and the Kirkgate Market.

Now in its 40th anniversary year, centre manager Catherine Riley is hoping to collate local memories to mark the milestone celebrations ahead of a special event.

“Kirkgate Shopping has a loyal customer base and it features in the life story of many of our visitors,” she said.

“Anecdotally we know the centre has been the place of first dates, marriage proposals, first jobs and celebrity meetings!

“In our 40th year we want to share local memories and invite those with the most vivid recollections to be special guests at our anniversary event in September. This is about celebrating our past and involving local people in the next chapter of our retail future.”

Sandra Corcoran of Pennine Cycles, Thornton Road, has started the ball rolling, recalling Kirkgate’s place in her family’s shopping history. She described the centre as the perfect place for meeting friends when she worked at City Hall in the 1970s and 80s.

“The new age of convenient, undercover shopping at the Kirkgate was where my mum did her household shopping. I continued the tradition when I married and made great use of Littlewoods, the Richards store and later my teenage daughter gained her shopping independence in the safety of the contained malls," she said.

“Kirkgate features in three generations of our family’s memories and as part of the fibre of Bradford’s recent history. I’m looking forward to hearing more about the part it has played in other people’s lives."

People can share their Kirkgate memories through social media and contributors could be a guest of honour at the anniversary event in September. Post memories on Facebook or Twitter using www.facebook.com/KirkgateShopping, @KirkgateCentre and hashtag #KirkgateMemories.

Mrs Riley said: “This is just the beginning of months of anniversary celebrations for Kirkgate Shopping. We want to hear from the people who have been part of our rich past and will contribute to the centre’s successful future.”