WORK to make the streets around Westfield's Broadway site "more welcoming and attractive" has been praised by city centre traders.

Improvements are being made to pavements and street lighting at the Bolton Road and Forster Square junction, as well as on Market Street and Kirkgate.

Once this phase is completed, work will continue to be carried out on all the streets adjacent to the new shopping centre, in-line with its own construction schedule.

This work is set to include new pedestrian crossings at Forster Square and Lower Kirkgate, and the upgrade of existing crossings, highway drainage, landscaping with plants and trees, and the installation of traffic signal poles and new street furniture such as benches, cycle racks and litter bins.

Val Summercales, secretary of Bradford Chamber of Trade, said: "Lots of these improvements were linked to the planning of the Westfield site, but any improvements to the city centre to make it look more visually appealing are welcome, and we'll always support them.

"It will probably be a little later in the project before shops begin to see a direct benefit, but there is a belief that things are moving in the right direction and we are pleased with the speed at which the development is taking shape."

Beth Whitaker, owner of the It's A Trap comic book store on Market Street, said: "It's exciting to see the amount of progress that is being made.

"I'm pleased that work is being done to make the streets look nicer, and you can already see a difference.

"We're looking forward to when Westfield is finished, as this street, which is already busy, will be one of the main routes into the centre."

A Westfield spokesman said it was "delighted" that work was continuing to enhance the look of city centre streets.

"The improved public areas, including new plants, trees and street furniture, will complement The Broadway Bradford when it opens, helping to improve the city centre and ensuring that it continues to thrive," he said.

The improvements are being financed by the Regional Growth Fund, and follow on from work designed to improve the main pedestrian route between the city's two main train stations - Forster Square and the Interchange.

Councillor Val Slater, Bradford Council's executive member for housing, planning and transport, said the authority considered it a priority to enhance the city centre environment to "ensure visitors find Bradford welcoming and attractive."