Bradford's property boom is continuing, despite rising interest rates and the reported slowdown in house prices, it was claimed today.

Property investment and management firm PPM said investors are still keen to plough money into the city after it secured sales of £10 million in the wake of a major London property show.

PPM - which has offices in Saltaire, Pudsey, Yeadon and Leeds - took a multi-million pound Bradford portfolio to the Excel centre in London for the Property Investors Show.

The response has been such that PPM, which employs 18 staff, is now planning to open its own office in Little Germany later this year.

"Our £60 million worth of luxury apartments included Tordoff Chambers on Sunbridge Road, another development on Grattan Road as well as key residential complexes in Little Germany and other parts of the city centre," explained PPM managing director Linda Watts.

"The difference in people's reaction from a year ago when there still seemed to be fears about the city's image was amazing."

She said the interest in Bradford had been such that the company had to employ a team of ten to work on the stand.

As well as closing a major deal at the show with an institutional investor, PPM - which now represents a string of developers in the city - has also secured dozens of sales since the show.

"Both individuals and institutional investors - including a pension fund - have already resulted in excess of £10m in sales since the show ended," she said.

"They were all keen to hear about the fantastic prices in Bradford when compared with neighbouring Leeds which is so much dearer.

"Bradford still has massive growth potential despite rising interest rates and so-called 'falling prices."

Maud Marshall, chief executive of Bradford Centre Regeneration, welcomed the news.

"I am very delighted to hear it," she said. "It reflects what we have been saying, now is a good time to think about investing in Bradford.

"Not withstanding the current macroeconomic environment, there are some good deals to be done in Bradford.

"We have an excellent master plan and development is now happening in the city. Values are still low enough to make good capital growth."

She added that Bradford was well-placed to sustain its growth in property values, despite growing national speculation that house prices are set to fall.

"Bradford has clearly not enjoyed the boom and bust type of investment that has been more traditional down south," she said.

"Let's wait and see what happens to prices. A lot of national commentators are being a bit gloomy but I am confident that Bradford can withstand it."