The cost of Bradford's John Street market revamp has risen again - only months after it received an extra £400,000 for the work. Bradford Council officers are in talks with the managing contractor Bovis Lend Lease about the final cost of the £3.5m scheme and who should pay the extra.

Executive committee member for the economy, Councillor Simon Cooke, said: "There are reports of a number of cost overspends. The question is whether they are costs which should have been anticipated or are exceptional.

"They are not significant in the scale of things and we are hoping to negotiate a satisfactory agreement. I can't give the amount because negotiations are going on and there is the question of commercial confidentiality. But I am sure we will finish up within the budget."

He said the previous overspend about six months ago had been connected with fire regulations, and he added: "This time there has been an issue over the cost of the roof and the method of constructing a temporary floor, but we are absolutely delighted the work has been done."

Traders say they believe costs have risen because the original £600,000 estimate for a new roof has doubled.

But Bovis said there are extra costs associated with fitting and refrigerators to enable traders from the nearby temporary Rawson Market to move into the revamped market in time for the Christmas trade.

Mick Binns, the Council's co-ordination and performance unit manager, said the overspend was a lot less than amounts quoted by the traders.

Anthony Ackroyd, treasurer of John Street Market Tenants' Association said: "We have never been able to get the full break down of costs we would have liked. If we had, we could have chosen our priorities.

"We have rumours that the cost has been quite a lot more than anticipated but the main thing is that the work has been done and the market is going to look very nice."

Bovis Lend Lease project manager Liam Hayes said the company was working with the Council to agree the final cost.

He said the new roof was now finished and work had begun removing the old roof covering and its supporting steel frame system which is expected to be completed by Easter.

He said great efforts had been made to ensure as many traders as possible would be in their units by the end of November. But Councillor Dave Green, the Council's Labour spokesman on regeneration, said ongoing reports of costs and any possible overspend should have gone to the executive committee and he would seek an explanation.