Bradford's long-awaited central police station is heading for a New Year completion with officers and staff moving there in phases.

The building, which has cost more than £10 million, will replace the Tyrls police station which was opened by the Queen in 1974.

It was announced today the new station situated in Nelson Street will be called Trafalgar House and officially opened next Easter.

The flagship station, a fourstorey contemporary building mainly built in natural stone to reflect the character of the city and designed by architects Rance Booth Smith, will accommodate employees from both the Tyrls and Odsal divisions. School children have designed artwork which will be incorporated in the new entrance.

The carvings will show the work of the police and involvement with the community.

Deputy chairman of West Yorkshire Police Authority Councillor Clive Richardson (Con, Thornton and Allerton) said: "It will be great for Bradford. It will bring the police together on one site and there will also be big improvements in parking. It is wonderful and exactly what Bradford needs."

The empty Tyrls police station on one of the city's most prominent sites has been bought by Bradford Centre Regeneration - the company spearheading the rebirth of the city.

It is expected eventually become part of the urban park land proposed in the city's visionary masterplan by international architect Will Alsop.

Today BCR operations director Marc Cole said consultants were working on the masterplan proposals for the area but it would probably be let temporarily.

Work was expected to start on the new central police station two years ago but the Council's regulatory and appeals committee deferred a planning application and insisted it should be partly built in natural stone.

The delay added £250,000 to the cost of building the blast proof station which will house well over 700 people.

The neighbouring Nelson Street fire station is expected to close next Autumn when a new £4 million replacement is completed in Leeds Road.