Contractors who helped to transform a Bradford warehouse into a Bollywood cinema claim they are owed tens of thousands of pounds.

Several firms who worked on the Malboro Cinema renovation have now joined forces and issued a petition for the company in charge of the project to be wound up.

Keighley-based firm D&R Construction was signed up by Asian Cine Ltd to help transform the building.

The Marlborough Road cinema, Manningham - gutted by fire earlier this week - opened in July. It is six months since renovation work was completed, but D&R joint partner Donald Jones claims his company is still owed £35,000.

He said: "The building was a shell. We were working seven days a week, ten hours a day to complete all the structural work - which included the plastering, camera room and seating.

"The total bill was about £95,000. Everything was OK for the first few weeks, then the payments stopped. I've had to borrow off my own family to keep things going."

Paul Wildman, of Lee & Priestley Solicitors, confirmed today a petition against Asian Cine Ltd was pending.

He said: "The creditors claim they are owed a substantial amount of money and have instructed Lee & Priestley to issue a petition on their behalf." A spokesman for Leeds Crown Court said the petition was due to be heard on February 6.

Creditor BG Cullum Joiners, of Garnett Street, Bradford, claims it has not received a penny of the £10,000 owed for work carried out between April and July. Owner Barry Cullum told the T&A: "We're not a big firm. We've been going for 30 years, but this has come close to sinking us.

"When we signed the contract we were told the funding was in place, that it was guaranteed by the banks and there would be no problem with payment."

Peter Collinson, owner of Bradford-based Collinson Brothers Electrical Services, says his company is still owed a "substantial" amount by Asian Cine Ltd.

He said: "When you're not paid for a big job it puts a strain on the company. We've had to borrow money to cover the shortfall."

Iqbal Singh Sekhon and his father Nirmal Singh resigned as directors of Asian Cine Ltd last October. Nirmal Singh is landlord of the property.

Asian Cine Ltd chairman Charles Morris said he was unable to comment on the allegations that the company owed creditors thousands of pounds. He said: "The less said the better."