A UN inspector has visited historic Saltaire to rule on its bid to be put on the same cultural footing as the Egyptian Pyramids.

And despite visiting during the flooding, when large parts of Roberts Park were under water, those behind the bid believe Eusebi Casanelles was impressed by what he saw.

The Spaniard - a heritage inspector with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) - spent two days in the 19th century model mill village to assess whether it is worthy of being made a World Heritage Site.

The bid team now face an agonising 13-month wait to find out whether Saltaire will receive the heritage accolade.

During his fact-finding mission, Mr Casanelles toured Salts Mill, the heart of village founder Sir Titus Salt's industrial empire, which is now home to many of the works of Bradford-born artist David Hockney.

He also visited the ornate Saltaire United Reformed Church, the rows of terraced mill workers' cottages, Victoria Hall and New Mill, the Bradford Health Authority headquarters.

Bradford Council's heritage manager Steve Bateman said: "It went very well given that we had a flood - we were able to illustrate that all the necessary technical and professional expertise is on hand to deal with things like that and although the park was under water we managed to demonstrate the water would be receding.

"I think he was impressed with the whole thing and we were encouraged because he actually came to the village on a private visit five years ago after identifying it as a place of great interest.''

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Con, Ilkley), the council's executive member for the environment, said: "He met a range of people from a number of organisations based in Saltaire as well as officers from the council's tourism, highways, landscaping and planning departments.

"A decision is expected to be made in December 2001 and it is unlikely that we'll be given any further information until then.''

Saltaire Village Society chairman, Clive Woods, who took Mr Casanelles on a guided walk round the village, said: "We were pleased with how the inspection went - every point we wanted to make was got over and we're guardedly optimistic. Although the walk was done in the pouring rain he came back the next day and saw Saltaire in glorious sunshine.''

Culture Secretary Chris Smith announced in July that Saltaire's nomination for World Heritage Site status was one of only four in the UK being forwarded by the Government for consideration by UNESCO.