Decision-makers from all over the country came to Bradford to find out: there's gold in them thar mills.

They were touring the city's architectural gems to see how they can be transformed and what opportunities are still around.

Around 100 property developers viewed Victoria Mills at Saltaire, Lister Mills at Manningham, Little Germany and Douglas Mill in West Bowling - currently being renovated - as part of the two-day Mills Conference in the city.

Jimmy Canning, a district councillor from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, said the combination of old and new at Salts Mill which started the tour was "stunning".

"The fact they are turning old buildings around and reusing them again this way is amazing, stunning.

"They look so much better than some of the buildings which went up 20 years ago. There has been a lovely blend of the old and the new.

"For people to provide all this activity in a place that was once derelict is a great achievement," he said, adding he was looking for ideas on how to improve mill conversions in his home town of Coalisland.

"We have mill conversions but they need updating all the time and Bradford serves up some brilliant new ideas."

Developer Candy Waller, director of JR Burrows in Batley, said Bradford was very much overlooked in terms of its mills potential.

She said there were many opportunities in the city.

"We are looking at four or five mills and it has been a very exciting day all round."

Conference organiser Nigel Grizzard said there was a very positive spirit about the tour.

"We have many people from the construction industry, people are really ready to do things.

"There is a feeling that it really is all happening here."

Today the delegates were being addressed by Simon Cooke, Bradford Council's portfolio holder for regeneration and housing, and Simon Gawthorpe from Urban Splash, which has transformed Lister Mills.