Car racing star Jason Plato took a group of lucky prizewinners on a white-knuckle ride around a go-kart circuit yesterday.

The setting was a relatively small indoor track in Bradford but those who strapped themselves in for the spine-tingling ride emerged shaking - but exhilarated.

Mr Plato, the British touring car champion, was taking part in the Kirkgate Go-Kart Charity Grand Prix at the Pole Position track, off Thornton Road.

The Kirkgate shopping centre has so far raised about £3,500 for the Heartbeat Scanner Appeal at Bradford Royal Infirmary, through its Race for Life promotion.

The professional racer took the lucky competition winners on a once-in-a-lifetime spin around the track in one of the centre's two seat go-karts.

And the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq, who was backing the charity event, could not resist having a go too.

Contest winner John Swain, 55, an engineer from Baildon, was thrilled by the experience.

"My wife entered me for the competition because I am interested in anything to do with motorsport," he said. "I wasn't scared, I like speed. You are going about 35 mph but it feels much faster when you are so close to the ground.''

Pictured, centre, is Jason Plato, with the prize winners and, right, Lord Mayor Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq.