David Cameron threw his weight behind the Conservative campaign for Bradford West as he visited a free school in the constituency.

Mr Cameron spoke to pupils at Kings Science Academy in Manningham Lane on a visit yesterday with his party’s by-election candidate Jackie Whiteley.

The Prime Minister described the school, which opened in September to 11-year-olds, as innovative and inspiring.

Of his party’s bid in Bradford West, he told the Telegraph & Argus: “The Conservatives have been making a recovery in Yorkshire and across the North of England.

“We want to do better. I think in Jackie we’ve got an excellent candidate. We’ve been fighting a very strong local campaign and Jackie is Yorkshire through and through.

“But also the Government I believe has been investing in Bradford – there is the £17 million for the city centre regeneration, there’s the news now that Bradford is going to get superfast broadband, there’s the money that we are investing into the Northern Rail Hub which includes the money announced yesterday for improving the Manchester-Bradford line, and there’s the regional growth fund investment in the area. I think all those things show that we want to regenerate and build up the enterprise and economy around Bradford.”

Mrs Whiteley also visited Bombay Stores on Shearbridge Road with Communities Minister Eric Pickles, the former Bradford Council leader. He said he thought the Tories had a “very reasonable chance” to take the seat due to the unpredictable nature of by-elections.

He said: “You’ve got to take into consideration the turnout and there is also the mix of a high-profile national figure also standing, though I expect it’s going to worry Labour rather than us.”

Mrs Whiteley praised the broadband announcement saying it was “wonderful” and that “businesses in this area need to be able to have superfast access”.