Takings have slumped at more than half of the stores in Bradford city centre in the past five years, according to a major national survey in shopping across Britain.

The city - categorised as a regional centre - is the worst hit place in Yorkshire, apart from Dewsbury. It is said to be affected by competition from the White Rose shopping centre, Leeds, and Sheffield's Meadowhall centre.

Factory outlets are also said to be damaging to the city but Bradford City's first season in the Premiership benefited trade by attracting bigger crowds.

The Lockwood survey examined the competitiveness of town and city centres from a consumers' point of view.

The study of 250 centres, including Bradford, Keighley, Skipton and Leeds found trading conditions were precarious for a third of businesses.

It was headed by John Lockwood, a town planner and urban designer specialising in the management of urban change.

New housing is said to have boosted trade in Skipton, where takings were above inflation at 55 per cent of the shops. But the report says the town is affected by competition from Ilkley, Keighley, Harrogate, Clitheroe and the Boundary Mill development at Colne.

In Keighley trade is improving with takings above inflation at 45 per cent of its stores, but the town is also being hit by Leeds, the White Rose and Owlcoate shopping centres, Trafford and Meadowhall.

City centre housing has boosted trade in Leeds, but according to the research the shopping centre is declining and is being damaged because of the perception that it has parking problems.

Scotland had the highest number of stores with dropping trade but the level in Yorkshire had grown in the past two years.

The survey, completed last year, is published as a new partnership company is being set up in Bradford with the role of drawing in investment and new stores.

A consortium is also planning to demolish most of the bottom end of the city centre and build a £200 million shopping development.

The report concludes that town and city centre management gives a competitive edge, with better trading figures for retailers, therefore benefitting businesses. But there is no compulsion for "free loaders" to carry a share of the costs.

The survey found more police were needed in the shopping centres. And in many cases toilets and car parking were not good enough.

Chairman of Bradford Retail Action Group Jeff Frankel said Bradford was hit by out-of-town shopping like all other cities, and car parking problems were at the root of it.

The Council's executive member for economy, Simon Cooke, said the range of shops in Bradford was getting better and the redevelopment of John Street and refurbishment of the Kirkgate centre would bring further improvements.

In the long term the planned £200 million Broadway shopping centre would bring a big boost to the city.