BRADFORD should make the most of its "global connections" to encourage investment in the district after the UK leaves the EU later this month.

That was the claim made by Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe, who says Bradford's international connections mean it is better placed than many areas of the UK to thrive after Brexit.

The Council's decision making Executive discussed Brexit at a meeting yesterday - the last public Executive meeting before March 29 - the date set for the UK to leave the EU.

The authority has been preparing for the impact of Brexit in the district, but have done so without any clear direction from government about what form Brexit will take.

With just a few weeks left until the UK leaves the EU, and the vote now having happened over two years ago, it is still unclear whether there will be a deal or a hard Brexit.

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A prior report into the impact of Brexit in the area by The Bank of England estimated that the Yorkshire and Humber regions will lose 7-10 per cent productivity two year after leaving the EU in the event of a no deal Brexit.

Members of the Executive were told that Bradford had been allocated £210,000 by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to help prepare for Brexit.

This has been used to set up services to help prepare for Brexit, as well as providing community and voluntary groups with £130,000 to provide "advice, guidance and advocacy" to people affected by the political shake up.

The Council has also set up a website to offer Brexit advice to residents and businesses.

At the meeting members were told there were plans in place to deal with any "disturbances" that might arise from Brexit.

Cllr Hinchcliffe added: "It is more important than ever that we make the most of our global connections to attract investment to Bradford.

"We have over 150 languages spoken in Bradford, so we are better placed than many other areas to build these international links."

Speaking about potential fallout from leaving the EU, she said: "It is important we are ahead of the game in mitigating any negative impacts so there are no shocks or disturbances.

"We have spoke of our ambitions for the district, and despite any negative things that come of Brexit, we still have those ambitions. We want to be a confident district where our young people have a successful future."

The meeting was told a contingency from Bradford last month visited Pakistan to discuss trade and co-operation between the country and Bradford.

And later this month representatives will travel to France for the MIPIM conference - a gathering of real estate professionals, to encourage more investment in the district.

The Executive voted, amongst other resolutions: "That a clear message that Bradford is a place of welcome, proud of its diversity and that this will not change, whatever happens to our relations with other countries, is consistently reinforced and promoted by the Council."