A FILM telling the story of the role of the community living near Valley Parade during the Bradford City fire disaster has been given its first screening.

Bradford City Community Foundation’s Unheard Voices project has produced a book and 12-minute film of residents’ experiences.

A total of 56 fans died in the fire on May 11, 1985, at a match between Bradford City and Lincoln City, with around 265 more injured.

Those behind the film project interviewed more than 60 people including retired police officers who were on duty at the fire, who said they went round the streets to find survivors.

Many of the residents, who were mostly Bangladeshi, took people into their homes, brought out blankets and drinks and let them use their home telephones. The residents also helped take victims to hospital.

The project’s film premiered at Shapla Hall Community Hall, Cornwall Terrace, Manningham, with members of the Bangladeshi community who helped on the day attending.

Haris Ali, who lived in Lupton Street at the time of the disaster and was one of the film’s interviewees, said it was emotional to watch the film. He said: “It is a good thing that the film has been made. I hope that this kind of tragedy never happens again. I have never seen a tragedy like this in the whole of my life.”

Rizwan Reyman, who was 13 at the time of the fire, watched the tragedy unfold from the attic of his home in Cornwall Terrace. He said: “There was a lot of panic and hysteria on the streets around the ground. But it was an excellent example of community cohesion."

The book and film will be officially released at an event at the Science and Media Museum on April 5, followed by a photographic exhibition at the same venue in May.

Unheard Voices was funded through a £40,100 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Paula Helliwell, Unheard Voices project manager, said: “This film was important to do. It’s about recognising, knowing and understanding what happened that day. The film really captured what the community did. The people living around Valley Parade were left living next to a graveyard, people laying flowers and they lived here through the rebuilding process."

The event also saw film interviewees receive awards handed out by Ian Ormondroyd, Bradford City Community Foundation chief executive.