Specialist contractors have painstakingly removed one of Bradford's most treasured statues to keep it safe during widespread road and demolition work in the heart of the city.

The W E Forster statue was removed from its plinth in a delicate three-hour operation and is today lying in storage provided by Bradford Council.

The bronze sculpture, which was unveiled in 1890, was wrapped in soft but strong synthetic slings before being gently lifted by crane in front of fascinated onlookers.

Contractor Matthew Fairley, whose Holmfirth company carried out the operation, said the statue weighed about 4,400lb but the operation was problem free.

He said the sculpture was held in the air for the shortest time possible before being removed to its temporary home.

Andy McDonald, development director of developers Stannifer, said the statue would return as a main feature in a new, pedestrianised Forster Square.

The statue's plinth was being removed today to allow Yorkshire Water to work on the site constructing a new main.

Preparations are also being made to remove and relocate the ornate facade near the railway station as the face of the city dramatically changes in preparation for the £200 million Broadway shopping scheme.

Forster House and Midland House have been pulled down but no dates have been given yet for the demolition of Petergate, Central House and part of the existing Broadway scheme including BHS.

BHS says it expects to close for three years in late summer, reopening in a state of the art department store in the new development.

Debenhams will also be a key tenant and Stannifer says it will soon be releasing the names of other big retailers waiting to move into the scheme.

Meanwhile streets throughout the bottom end of the city are being dug up to allow Yorkshire Water and other companies to work on trenches bringing services into the shopping centre.

Next week will see a start on work re-aligning Hall Ings with Leeds Road involving the closure of the Eastbrook Well subways.

Project manager Guy Barford said the £20 million roadwork scheme, called Connecting the City, was on target and would be completed by the end of this year.

The statue of the great Victorian politician William Forster was in storage for several years in the 1960s while the square was being reconstructed.

In the 1990s the three metre high sculpture was moved 22 yards to a more prominent position.

Coun Simon Cooke the Council's executive member for regeneration said: "It is a wonderful piece of public art and it is fitting that it will come back to grace this exciting new development.

"It is another sign that work is progressing towards the construction of the Broadway project and continued regeneration of the city."

William Forster was a wool manufacturer and became MP for Bradford in 1861 when he was returned unopposed as successor to Sir Titus Salt.

He was the politician behind the 1870 Education Act which made schooling compulsory for all children.

A memorial service was held in Westminster Abbey after his death in 1886. His statue was commissioned and paid for through public subscription.