The 56 people who died 24 years go in the Bradford City Fire Disaster were due to be remembered today at a special memorial service at 11am.

The city was expected to come to a standstill for one minute as respects were paid in Centenary Square. The City Hall flag was due to fly at half-mast as a gathering of civic dignitaries and the public came together at the memorial sculpture.

Bradford’s Lord Mayor Councillor Howard Middleton was due to host the service to remember all those who died, the hundreds who were hurt, and their families.

On May 11, 1985, tragedy struck when Bradford City played Lincoln City. Shortly before half-time a blaze engulfed the main stand.

Expected to join leading community figures were the Mayor and Mayoress of Lincoln, Bradford City chaplain the Reverend Andy Bowerman and the Lord Mayor’s Chaplain Canon Denise Poole were leading the service.

Just last month, young footballers took part in a competition against players from Europe at a tournament to mark the disaster’s 24th anniversary Under 12-teams and under-14 teams from across the district played against teams from Lincoln, Germany and Ireland at a tournament held in Marley Stadium, Keighley.

A minute’s silence was also held before play on both the Saturday and Sunday as a mark of respect.

Bradford Council’s community play and activities manager Carl Dalton, who organised the event, was 17 when he was involved in the fire.

Bradford City manager Stuart McCall played in the fateful game in 1985 and his father Andy was among those badly injured in the blaze.

Two Lincoln fans also perished and the two clubs have forged a close bond in their suffering.

It was only in 2007 that Bradford City played Lincoln City in a league fixture for the first time since the disastrous fire.

Players from both sides wore black armbands and fans of both clubs were asked to make donations to the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit at the University of Bradford.

As well as a minute’s silence, today’s service also included prayers and the laying of wreaths.

Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Howard Middleton said: “We must reflect and remember all the people who were affected by this disaster.

“This is an incredibly significant date for the people and city of Bradford to come together and remember.”