IT’S hoped the magical spirit of Christmas will shine at the ‘top of town’ once more as businesses club together to raise funds for a Christmas tree in Oastler Square.

Reverend Graeme Dutton, a Methodist minister in Bradford who runs the St Arnold’s pub church from the Bradford Brewery, said the idea came about when he and Les Hall, from the Sparrow Bier Cafe, were talking about the North Parade community.

Mr Dutton, a Minister of the Bradford South Methodist Circuit, said the bars and businesses want to work together.

“We were talking about plans for Christmas, but we were thinking ‘what can we do that will make this look and just feel more like a community space in the run up to Christmas?’

“Years ago, there used to be a Christmas tree in Oastler Square, but not for many years now. These are the things that are really important and bring a community together.”

Mr Dutton said a couple of events are already in the pipeline for Christmas, including a market and a ‘Curry and Carols’ night at North Parade’s Peacock Bar.

“It would be incredible to have a beautiful tree that lights up the space a little bit and makes it more of an attractive place to be, something drawing people together.”

He added the addition of a tree would make the area feel “magical” during the festive period.

Around £1,500 needs to be raised to make the dream a reality, but a number of organisations and businesses have already pledged their support to the cause.

The fundraising is now half-way there, with The Peacock Bar, the Sparrow Bier Cafe, Locate Properties, Wireless Bar and the St Arnold’s pub church community all making pledges.

Mr Dutton said: “It’s really nice talking to people that have heard about what we are doing.

“They seem really encouraged by it.

“It’s not just about a tree, it’s about much more than that - it’s about community.

“It’s about saying this part of the city has not been forgotten in all the development elsewhere.”

He also spoke of the “incredible” moment a taxi driver gave his spare change after hearing about the fundraising campaign.

The tree will be located next to Boyes so it will be visible from a number of different points.

The top of town has been experiencing an uncertain period in recent years. In March, Council bosses unveiled a major new £15m plan to overhaul their city centre markets, including demolishing the existing Oastler Centre.