A NOT-FOR-PROFIT organisation has created a smartphone app to help visitors discover the history of an area of Bradford.

Little Germany Action (LGA) - founded in 2011 by Dave West, Graham Sweeney and Simon Petchey of law firm Schofield Sweeney, and Jonathan Southcott, of design agency This is Chemistry - have designed the app called LGA Heritage Trail.

The app, which is available to download, has been created to let people discover the heritage, history and art of the area and help promote “one of the best heritage areas in the country”. It is also aimed at realising the area’s potential and helping create something special in Bradford city centre.

Little Germany was home to the German merchants who came to Bradford in the late 1850s in the prosperous textile industry.

The area’s buildings now form a collection of 85 sites constructed between 1855 and 1890, of which 55 are listed.

Mr West, who has worked in Little Germany since 1986, said: “Little Germany is a wonderful place, a unique concentration of beautiful Victorian-listed buildings where people live and work. But despite years of effort, very few people know enough about this Bradford gem, either locally, regionally or nationally.”

Business owners and residents have put up a number of art installations alongside existing features which form part of an evolving arts and heritage trail through Little Germany.

Technology developed for the app by Intermesh Creative Ltd lets visitors to Little Germany use Bluetooth technology to display artwork and tell stories.

Mr West said: “The use of Bluetooth beacons and a smartphone app is a wonderful way of spreading the news and getting more people to enjoy the art and discover Little Germany.

“I am indebted to Intermesh for making this happen. LGA is going to use this as a starting point, a pilot for a fantastic opportunity to showcase one of the best heritage areas in the country - so watch this space for more great art in the near future.”

Little Germany is still one of Bradford’s busiest commercial areas, with more than 110 businesses and organisations with 3,000 workers. It attracts around 100,000 visitors each year.

It is also home to Bradford Playhouse, which has a mural on the building that commemorates the centenary of the founding of the Independent Labour Party in Bradford in 1893.