A former Lord Mayor is calling for a recently-unearthed section of city centre tram line to remain as a feature of Bradford’s City Park.

Metal rails from the city’s tram system, which ran until 1950, were discovered alongside cobbled paving just below the surface of Channing Way, near City Hall, last week.

The short lengths of disconnected lines have now been removed as part of deep excavation work, but Stanley King, a local historian and former Lord Mayor of Bradford, wants a small section incorporated into the paving of the regeneration scheme.

He said people had got in touch with him about the issue.

Mr King said: “The track is a real example of the old cityscape and it was the one that the last tram set out on on its last journey 60 years ago.

“It might not be too late to make a little adjustment to the plans to link together the past, present and future of the city. I think people who remember the old city centre would be pleased to see that.”

The £24.4-million, six-acre City Park is funded by Bradford Council, Yorkshire Forward and the Regional Transport Board.

It is due to open next summer.

Mike Cowlam, the Council’s assistant director for economic development, said: “While constructing the City Park, we have uncovered small sections of the old tram lines near City Hall.

“Unfortunately there are only small sections of the tram lines remaining as utility companies have previously removed them to lay new pipes across Channing Way.”

He said planners were not keen to incorporate the rails in the way suggested by Mr King.

“We do not think that incorporating them into the design at this stage is either desirable or practical as the rails would need to be treated,” he said.

“This treatment often takes away from the original look of the rails and would have no continuity across the City Park and into the Heritage Streets.

“The majority of the rails uncovered have been recycled.

“However, we have retained some incomplete sections for historical reference.”