Prize-winning poems which were set in stone in the city centre have been removed.

Afsanar Kauser and two others, who Carlton Bolling College is still trying to trace, were the authors of three poems 20 years ago.

The winning words were engraved into stones slabs and placed outside the Co-operative Bank building on Tyrrel Street.

Poet laureate Ted Hughes chose the poems in a competition. Two are in English and one is in Urdu.

The slabs have been cleaned and are to take pride of place at the Undercliffe school, where the pupils studied.

Carlton Bolling teacher Andy Topley and deputy head Andy Taylor watched yesterday as the slabs were lifted by Bradford Council contractors.

The stones needed to be moved as work has begun this week on a £1.6 million scheme to revitalise the Tyrrel Street, Bank Street and Hustlergate areas.

This is the second stage of improvements to the city centre pedestrian precinct, following work in Darley Street.

The work includes resurfacing the streets with new and re-used stone paving, new street furniture such as seats and litter bins and tree planting.

Automatic bollards will be installed at the ends of Tyrrel Street, Hustlergate, Kirkgate, Ivegate and Upper Millgate to restrict access by vehicles.

Three trees in Tyrrel Street outside the Co-operative Bank building have been removed as they outgrew the space and will be replaced with six new ones.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the Council’s executive member for environment and culture, said: “It’s apt that the poetry is going back to where it was first written and I do hope the school manages to contact all the poets so they can go back to their old school and admire their work.

“These current improvement to the city-centre will really complement the first phase of work which took place in Darley Street last year.”

Tyrrel Street between Bridge Street and Ivegate will be closed to vehicles for four months while the improvement and maintenance works in this area are carried out.

Businesses have been contacted so that alternative delivery routes can be arranged.

The remaining two former students the college is still trying to trace are Alvina Alam and Shamin Kauser. They or their families are asked to contact Mr Topley on 07515 329466.