Bradford Vision has been accepted as the area's official regeneration body - and secured a £17 million grant to improve life in the district.

Government approval of the scheme was announced yesterday following the submission of a detailed action plan.

The group will work to bring opportunities to the district's most deprived areas and tackle deprivation.

The cash, which will be received over a two-year period, will be distributed to groups working in such areas as crime health, housing, employment and education.

Councillor Margaret Eaton, chairman of Bradford Vision, said she was delighted with the news.

She said: "We will have a key role in delivering a brighter future and this new status gives us a firm mandate to set about the challenge of bringing people, organisations and communities together for the benefit of the whole district."

As one of the 88 poorest regions in the country, Bradford was eligible for money from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund but to continue receiving grants the city was required to set to set up its own regeneration organisation.

Bradford Vision is a partnership of several key public and private bodies, including Bradford Council, Bradford Chamber of Commerce, health services, West Yorkshire Police, Bradford University and colleges.

A grant of almost £5 million has previously been received from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and distributed by the Council.

Paul Smith, chairman of the Bradford Vision Executive, said: "The decision to accredit Bradford Vision as the Local Strategic Partnership is good news for the district.

"It is the result of an enormous amount of hard work by many people.

"It shows that the Government now recognises that Bradford's communities and organisations are serious about working together to make Bradford's 2020 vision come true."

On taking up the post of the group's chief executive, Sharmila Gandhi said: "We have got to really got to raise the image of Bradford which was marred by the riots last year."

The Government will continue to work with regeneration organisations to secure ongoing improvement and set out areas of concern.

Speaking yesterday, Regeneration Minister Lord Falconer said: "Groups like Bradford Vision need our full support to help them address their problems.

"This is only the first step in reaching our goal of delivering better local services in neighbourhoods.

"Regeneration won't work without strong partnership based on genuine community participation.