A stunning water garden has been described as the "uniquely fitting finish" to restored Lister Park by Lord Mayor Councillor Stanley King.

He told crowds who attended the opening of the Mughal garden to enjoy the Council-owned park, with "no litter, no vandals, but with boats, fresh air, tea and buns - and culture at Cartwright Hall."

The Mughal garden - using the Islamic and Hindu architectural styles - is the first of its type in the North of England.

The six waterfalls were switched on after children from Whetley Hill Primary School, including eight-year-old Sanya Mir, pictured, performed traditional Indian dancing in nearby historic Cartwright Hall.

The £600,000 garden is a main feature in the park which has been redeveloped with the help of a £3.2 million award from the Heritage Lottery fund.

Work has included the restoration of the Victorian bandstand, a new boating pavilion and caf and the reintroduction of boats to the lake.

The programme began in 1998 and is expected to be finished by the end of this year.

Coun King said: "After 130 years, I think we can at long last say the park is complete.

"The park is for everyone and I ask everybody to use it in large numbers."

The new garden got a big welcome from families visiting it yesterday. Rehana Kausar, of Whetley Lane, Bradford, said her two children had already seen a similar spectacular garden in Lahore. "It will be lovely to have one in Bradford," she said.

Mac Price, 51, a cabinet maker of Eccleshill, said: "It is absolutely amazing. It's what Bradford needs."

Teacher John Britton, of Nab Wood, said: "It looks lovely and a lot of people are going to enjoy it."

The garden is about 120 metres long, 30 metres wide and is divided into squares with paths and water channels.

Bradford Council's park department has planted juniper, ash, walnut, mountain ash, hawthorn and beech trees as well as honeysuckle, jasmine, lilac, lilies and tulips.

The children who danced at the event worked with the Bradford-based DiVeRsitY Dance Company.

Two dancers from the company, including founder Balbir Singh, also performed at the ceremony.

The park was originally on the site of Manningham Hall - the home of the Lister textile family.

Samuel Cunliffe Lister sold the house and grounds to Bradford Corporation in 1870 on condition that it be used as a public park. The Lister family also contributed £47,500 towards the £70,000 cost of the purpose-built Cartwright Hall Art Gallery and museum in the park grounds.