Businesses are vying for the right to bring back boating to historic Lister Park.

Demand for the boats - pictured on the lake in the 1960s - faded in the 1980s, after which the once picturesque lake became filled with debris and weeds.

But in 1999 it was dredged and cleaned and the large, curved, windowed caf, along with the pavilion and boat workshop, were refurbished at a cost of £1.2 million.

An overall £4.2m redevelopment of the historic park has seen the lake restored. It now has 20 rowing and ten pedal boats available for hire.

Now Bradford Council - which owns the park - has been flooded with 29 applications to operate the boating pavilion and its caf.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the council's executive member for the environment said: "Lister Park is an extremely popular attraction, so it's no surprise that we have been inundated with inquires from people interested in running the boating pavilion and caf on our behalf.

"The council is always keen to work in partnership to provide top quality services, but this is a particularly exciting opportunity for the right business."

David Talbot, principle outdoors amenities manager, said 29 enquires had come in with two weeks still to go before the deadline for submissions.

"We would then carefully consider all the applications before awarding the franchise in time for the caf and pavilion to reopen in April," he said.

The architecture of the new buildings is intended to reflect but not imitate their Victorian roots.

The £4.2m park renovation was backed by a grant of £3.2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Other work already completed includes a major facelift for the play area and the replacement of old public toilets with super loos.

Work to be carried out this year includes the restoration of the bandstand and the creation of an Eastern Mughal water garden.

The botanical garden will be replanted this year, statues will be restored, and footpaths and lighting will be improved.