Bradford schoolchildren have spelled out success for the district's Capital of Culture bid.

A series of letters spelling out Bradford, followed by the numbers 2008, took pride of place in London's Leicester Square.

Passers-by stopped to examine them and were inspired to ask questions about the bid - and wish Bradford luck.

And, in a scene which spoke volumes about Bradford's cultural life, Bradford's civic heads, dancers from arts group Kala Sangam, Belle Vue Girls pupils, and Black Dyke Band members joined for a photocall across the Bradford 2008 display. The letters were designed by district schools especially for the Bradford bid.

Now Bradford Council leader Margaret Eaton is calling for them to be on display in the district.

The letter B, designed by Newby Primary School, Bradford, was covered in Telegraph & Argus cuttings.

Next came R, on which youngsters at Rhodesway Primary in Allerton had painted brightly coloured images of Bradford - including the Alhambra and Salts Mill.

The A, designed by Clayton Village Primary, was covered in Bradford Bulls colours, and the D had a music theme. Pupils at Bradford Cathedral Community College had painted on pictures of instruments and notes.

The F was covered in handprints, created by Abbey Green Nursery School, Bradford, while youngsters at Canterbury Children's Centre, Girlington, stuck photographs of themselves at play onto the O. St. Walburga's Catholic Primary, Shipley, went for images of Bradford on the letter R, sticking on pictures of Bradford's latest pop star Gareth Gates, a Morrisons bag, a picture of Sir Titus Salt, and the Telegraph & Argus masthead.

And Atlas Primary School, Bradford, covered the D in faith symbols.

The 2008 numbers were also brightly decorated. The 2, designed by Wibsey Primary, was covered in pictures of faces; 0, created by Canterbury Children's Centre, had fashion pictures across it, representing Bradford's association with textiles; the other 0, designed by Heaton Primary, was covered in pictures of food; and the 8 - decorated by Atlas Primary - was decorated with Bradford scenes.

l Children across the district also designed letters forming the phrase One Landscape Many Views, used in a parade and dance celebrating Bradford's bid in Centenary Square on Tuesday.

The phrase is taken from the title of a David Hockney montage, which Bradford's Capital of Culture logo is based on.

Children from Idle-based performing arts school Stage 84 weaved their way around Bradford city centre, holding up the letters, before descending on Centenary Square for a dance routine.

Lord Puttnam, left, is pictured with Bradfordians who were backing the Capital of Culture bid in London.