A three-year project by residents who wanted to kick start the regeneration of their housing estate will finally bear fruit tomorrow.

The people of Bradford's Ravenscliffe estate say the area is ready and raring to go now that the £1.8 million Gateway Centre is about to officially open.

Residents concerned at the way the estate was losing its way drew up the plan for a community centre which would provide a thriving heart for the area, and then raised more than £800,000 to see it built.

The remaining cash was provided by the Government's Sure Start fund.

Ian Kenning, centre co-ordinator employed by the Ravenscliffe Community Association, said: "About four years ago they had a particularly bad year. Through the schools reorganisation the community lost three of their four schools, the sports centre was closed and 100 homes were demolished. People thought the estate was being run down.

"So the residents were challenged to do something about it themselves rather than wait for the Council to take a lead."

More than 250 residents put ideas forward as to how the area could be turned around, and the theme they came back to was the need for a community facility to provide the services needed to make the area a desirable place to live.

After the massive fundraising success, building work began in January 2004 and took a year. Since then community workers have been putting together long-term funding packages.

Mr Kenning said: "They have risen to the challenge and found revenue funding from Europe to secure the project."

From tomorrow Gateway will officially offer adult education, training courses, volunteering opportunities, a caf, advice services, a job-finder service and a venue for social events.

In return for its £1 million injection Sure Start, which funds projects that give youngsters a head start in life, also gets a headquarters on the estate and a 35-place day nursery.

Mr Kenning said: "Realistically this project will always be in some way grant dependent. But we have to be fairly confident we will do it now. The residents' association has managed to raise more than £800,000 so with that track record it should pull the funds in."

Tomorrow's fun day is aimed at showing off the new side of Ravenscliffe in the hope that housing trusts will look to build in the area and businesses will move in.

Mr Kenning said: "The hope is that this can draw people in so they can come and see for themselves, and if they do, I think they will be really surprised."

The fun day starts at noon and runs till 4pm at the Gateway Centre on Thackeray Road, Ravenscliffe.