A plea has been made to Bradford Council for motor sport to return to Odsal Stadium following the collapse of a £60 million redevelopment plan.

Promoters of West Yorkshire stock car racing have asked the Council, which owns the stadium, for talks on the return of the sport which moved out in 1997 for the anticipated redevelopment of the home of Bradford Bulls. And Nigel Dawson, a longstanding supporter of the Bradford Dukes speedway team, wants the Dukes to reform and return to the stadium.

The effort follows a decision by Leeds-based Sterling Capitol to pull the plug on the rebuilding scheme. The company decided not to proceed after the Government called in its planning application for a public inquiry.

Steve Reece, promoter of Startrax Oval Motorsports, said today: "The redevelopment blow is, I am sure, a big disappointment to the Council and the city.

"But it may be that a new chapter could dawn at Odsal. We have written to the Council asking for exploratory talks about the sport's return which, depending on op-tions, could bring in some £150,000-plus in revenues to the stadium."

He said his organisation could run a new pitch-protection system similar to one by the Scottish Football Association where football takes place at 3pm and stock car racing at 6.15pm each Saturday.

Mr Dawson - who also did stock car racing at Odsal - said the Dukes were Britain's top club, winning the Speedway Star Knockout Cup in three consecutive seasons.

He said speedway was stopped at Odsal in an 'outrageous manner' three years ago, to allow the proposed redevelopment to take place.

Bradford Council's chief executive Ian Stewart said: "I have received an expression of interest regarding the wider sporting use of Odsal Stadium. A meeting will be arranged in due course with the interested parties involved to discuss the matter further."

Meanwhile, the Council's Execu-tive Committee was considering the future of the stadium today.

Members are being recommended by assistant chief executive for regeneration David Kennedy to set aside £666,000 to only do health and safety work at the stadium rather than major redevelopment.