Families have won their fight to stop an Angel of the North-type sculpture from going up on a public green space on a major roundabout.

People who want to keep Thornbury roundabout in Bradford as a playground and leisure space objected to the proposal, which was part of a plan to regenerate the Leeds Road gateway to the city.

The idea was welcomed by leading business people. But Thornbury Village Residents Association sent a hands-off message to regeneration chiefs.

The proposal to use community space has now been dropped from a plan to breathe new life into the Leeds Road approach to the city by Regen 2000 - the partnership board administering a multi-million pound award from the Government's Single Regeneration Budget.

Residents' Association secretary Christine Watts received a letter from Bradford Council yesterday saying the plan would not go ahead.

"I am absolutely delighted," she said. "We are not against a major sculpture for Bradford at all, but we think this is the wrong place. The children and community love the roundabout - it's our only green space - and people living in houses here are glad they overlook it."

But today Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, a member of the regeneration board, said they had not completely dropped their plan to use the roundabout, which was one of the city's best sites.

They were considering a structure on the edge of the roundabout outside the fencing marking off the public area.

Executive member for the economy Councillor Simon Cooke said: "One or more gateway sculptures were part of the plan to continue promoting Bradford following its failure to reach the shortlist for European Capital of Culture in 2008.

"We want to keep up the impetus of that bid. We have to do this sensitively and we would always want to do it in consultation with local residents.

"My view is that a gateway feature enhances the area attracts new investors.

"It must be top quality and my own preference is for the first roundabout on the M606."

The Council's executive committee will make the final decision on whether or where the city should have a gateway feature. There is expected to be a Lottery bid and approaches for partnership funding if it goes ahead.