The £6 million sale of Bingley's shopping precinct to a major developer - with the promise of a massive revamp - has been hailed a major boost for the town's future.

Glasgow-based property trading and development company Halladale today announced it had bought the down-at-heel 1970s Myrtle Walk shopping centre.

Plans will be submitted to Bradford Council for a full redevelopment of the 50,000-square-feet site to create a 65,000-square-feet modern centre.

Eileen Sinclair, Bingley civic trust's acting secretary and a member of the Better Bingley Campaign, said the news had made her day.

"It's great news and a great start to the new year," she said.

"It's about time Bingley had some good news, and after the opening of the relief road and the town's new toilets it's as if everything is happening all of a sudden.

"The centre has stuck out like a sore thumb for many, many years and at last something is being done. I can't express how happy I am."

The centre, which was owned by Fordgate Property, includes Safeway supermarket, a mixture of independent and chain stores and the library.

Residents, traders and ward councillors have been pushing for something to be done with the 1970s building for many years.

And despite plans for a revamp being submitted in 1999 they never materialised.

Councillor David Heseltine (Con, Bingley) said he was delighted the "eyesore" centre had finally been sold.

"I look forward to seeing their detailed development plans and I hope it will sit well within Bingley," he said. "We have had other promises in the past and I sincerely hope this one goes ahead."

Halladale, which was last year involved in £145 million ventures, has developed a number of shopping centres throughout the UK including Reading's Woodley centre and the Bowen centre in Daventry, Essex.

Chief executive David Lockhart said it was an exciting project for the company and Bingley.

"We will utilise our active asset management and redevelopment skills to add value and enhance the urban environment," he said. "Working closely with the Council, Halladale will regenerate Bingley's shopping facilities and attract new occupiers to the town centre."

l Plans have been submitted to Shipley planners for long-awaited public toilets in Bingley's Jubilee Gardens.

The application is for a sandstone block to be built on land between the arts centre and the Bradford & Bingley building, with the entrance facing Myrtle Park. It will have baby-changing facilities, a toilet for people with disabilities and be staffed full-time seven days a week, 7.30am to 6.30pm.