More than 50 companies have contacted Bradford Council to say they are interested in taking over Vicar Lane car park for redevelopment.

The Council advertised the city centre site after the collapse of a planned £40 million leisure scheme in December.

The authority needs to get about £6m from the site to carry out a long-delayed major scheme at the main Rawson Market.

The deadline for submissions to the Council is tomorrow and regeneration chief David Green said they were expecting some 11th-hour submissions.

He said more than 50 approaches had been made by national and international companies wanting to use the 600-space car park for shopping, leisure or offices.

The Council has previously said it wants a mixed use for the land, including a major car park.

Coun Green, chairman of the Council's regeneration committee, said today they were pleased with the response but anticipated more approaches close to deadline. The Council will then make a shortlist of the would-be developers, who will be asked to make full presentations to the Council.

There will be stringent checks on their backgrounds to ensure they are capable of delivering the goods.

A final decision will be taken by the regeneration committee.

Meanwhile, traders who were moved out of the old market to a £1.2m temporary site more than two years ago say business is slumping because they cannot get back to their former home.

But there is also a twist to the saga because Morrisons are interested in redevelopment which could include a joint market hall for both John Street and Rawson Markets.

And another company wants to extend across Kirkgate onto the Rawson Market site and use it for shopping.

But the tenants of Rawson and John Street markets and James Street fish market say urgent action is needed because of the drop in trade.

Today the secretary of Rawson Market Tenants Association, John Parker, said: "The interest in Vicar Lane is very welcome and we hope things can move quickly."

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