Youngsters in Bradford are being given the chance to be pampered like royalty for a day.

The Lord Mayor Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq is urging children to write in and say what they would do if they were prince or princess of the district.

And the winner will sit on a throne on the Lord Mayor appeal's float in his parade on June 23.

The royal guest will also be allowed to invite a group of schoolfriends.

"It will be a great opportunity for children to express what they feel about the city and also have a wonderful day at the parade," said Coun Khaliq.

This year the Lord Mayor is raising funds for the Bradford Macmillan Appeal - to provide specialist cancer nurses - and the Prince's Trust which helps young people set up businesses.

Appeal organisers decided on the royal theme for the competition because the Prince of Wales is president of the Macmillan Trust and he also set up the Prince's Trust.

Helen Davies, assessor for the Prince's Trust in Bradford, said: "We want youngsters to know about the work the Trust does as they need to know that we're here for them.

"We're about equal opportunities and in our eyes everyone is equal.

"There's a lot of hidden talent in Bradford and the Trust wants to tap into that talent and show young people that they can be achievers."

Michelle Norcliffe, the Bradford Macmillan appeal manager, said the competition was a good way of bringing the two very different beneficiaries of the appeal together.

The competition is open to children aged five to 11.

Entries of no more than 100 words should be sent to the Lord Mayor's appeal office, City Hall, Channing Way, Bradford, BD1 1HY, by Friday, June 8.

Name, age, address, school and telephone number should be included.