A flagship regeneration centre which was praised by the Duke of York has been left in the dark, smashed and vandalised.

Just over a year ago Prince Andrew visited Woolston House business and art centre in Tetley Street, Bradford, which was seen as a model of how a redundant mill could be recycled.

Now the downstairs rooms and offices have been ripped and smashed - and rubbish is piled up in the foyer where the royal visitor was welcomed and cheered in December 2001.

The dramatic change of fortunes of Goitside's star regeneration scheme follows the non-payment of a large electricity bill last month. Shortly afterwards the power was switched off by electricity company Powergen.

The next day tenants received notices to quit from an agent they believed represented the owner, North Yorkshire businessman Michael Abrahams. It gave them 28 days to move out, with the threat of eviction if they did not.

There was a helpline number on the notices, but the angry tenants said they could get no reply. Most had to pack up before the final day because they were stuck in dark, cold premises and no-one could use the computers.

Now the future is uncertain for the restored Victorian warehouse with floors the size of a football pitch.

Mr Abrahams has not responded to frequent calls from the Telegraph & Argus and this week his staff said they could not contact him because his fax machines were broken.

So what happened to the apparently highly successful centre where about 80 organisations, businesses, art and theatre groups were happily based?

They say they had paid for the electricity in their service charges and are furious that they cannot even stay until the end of the notice period.

They want to speak to the owner to find out who is to blame and what is to become of the building.

There was disbelief, anger and grief as they worked in chaos and darkness on January 31 to clear out their property. Some managed to get vans, others piled equipment, books and computers into their cars but many were worried that they may not be able to get back in if any belongings were left behind.

In the event they did get access and some were able to carry on in the difficult circumstances. But there were times when the front door was left open - with none of the management's permanent staff still working.

And within weeks the lack of security has taken its toll with wreckers causing thousands of pounds of damage.

The building was being run by Goitside Renaissance Ltd headed by director David Scougall, also GRL's main shareholder. That company was set up before the last business running Woolston House - Delauney House Ltd - went into liquidation last year.

The arrangement for Goitside Renaissance Ltd to manage the building was due to end next month.

Mr Scougall says he collected the rents until the end of February but did not know what he was expected to do because the building's owner "never talked to him".

A Powergen spokesman apologised for the inconvenience and upset caused to the tenants. But she said: "The bill went to Goitside Renaissance Ltd and it wasn't paid, so it was disconnected."

She would not say how much was owed or for how long because it was a confidential matter with the customer.

Mr Scougall said: "The tenants got what they paid for until the end of January. If I had collected rents for February the bill would have got paid."

Now many of the fed-up tenants have found new premises but say their businesses and activities have been hit and claim they have had a raw deal.

They want an explanation and an apology and are horrified by the state of the once-imposing building.

Goitside Renaissance Ltd is still in business, but Mr Scougall said its future is uncertain.

Major steps are being taken to improve the Goitside area of the city, which is ripe for regeneration.

It includes United Co-operatives undertaking a major development plan around Sunwin House which includes housing, a hotel and leisure.

A partnership was formed at the beginning of 2000 and commissioned a master plan for Goitside last year.

The possibility of a gateway piece of art is being considered and there is a suggestion the Bradford Beck could be opened up and made into a water feature with cascades, fountains and pools.

The master plan sees the pedestrianisation of Godwin Street as a major step towards removing the barrier between the city centre and the eastern section of Goitside.

The Businesses

Businesses and organisations which rented premises in Woolston House last year included:

Byte Back (Global Balance), Withered Wing, Check Services/Ace Process Servers (criminal and private investigator), Adam & Co Consulting (consultancy/training), Goitside Renaissance Ltd, Black Ice Recordings, Our Voice Counselling Project (service for men/women into forced marriage), Media Caf, Harness Direct (training and sales), Concord Northpoint Space, Bradford Youth Development, Bradford Youth Service, Bradford People First (people with learning difficulties), No to Nasha, Choice Recruitment (the Social Services), Urban Quest, Rowntree Charitable Trust, Future First Interactive, Andrew Idle Associates (chartered surveyor), Yorkshire Post Newspapers, City Centre Living Initiative, Laisya/Imex Pharmaceuticals, Advanced Financial Services, United Arts UK Ltd (festivals in the Asian community), Minster Cleaning Services, Community Works Training, Section E Media, SME ZONE (business), The Holiday Club (property abroad), 4 WAZ Claims, Minority Police Liaison, Skinning the Cat (artists), BEAT, Hodge & Temkow Solicitors, Global PR Ltd, Malik Solicitors, Duncan Wilcock Solicitors, Victim Support, Inventors Club, Atom Studios (artists), Woolston Contemporary Gallery.