Only half the predicted number of visitors have passed through the doors of Bradford's Millennium faith centre in its first week.

But Life Force bosses say there is no cause for concern despite national fears that a string of lottery-funded Millennium projects are struggling for success.

A report by MPs in the influential Commons Culture Select Committee has warned there could be a succession of millennium project failures because of the sudden surge of new tourist attractions.

But today Gerald Kaufman MP, Labour's former Shadow Foreign and Home Secretary who headed the report, said he believed Life Force's unique theme could allow it to succeed.

"One of the benefits of the Millennium Fund has been the rise in interesting projects around the country, on the other hand this has come within a narrow time period in this country which can present problems," he said.

"If you have an area with new attractions, some will always flourish while others will not. But there is no reason why Life Force cannot succeed, there are enough people with an interest in religion to make it work."

The opening day of Life Force on Friday, July 28, attracted 300 visitors - including invited guests - but the figures have dramatically tailed off since.

A spokesman for Life Force, whose £5 million cost was split between the Millennium Commission and matched funding, said although exact figures were not available it had attracted an average of about half the 120 visitors a day needed to reach the directors' first year target of 42,000.

Board member Manoj Joshi said directors had anticipated a quiet first few days.

He said: "It has given us the chance to work on some of the exhibits which were not finished for the 'soft' opening.

"We are looking to school trips to provide most visitors and this can only happen once they reopen in September and we put together a business plan which is conservative in its projections, we are confident we can achieve our aims."

He added: "People have been knocking it without even seeing it, they have to realise the wider aims of Life Force such as bringing the different cultural groups in Bradford closer together."

But John Pennington, Bradford entrepreneur and member of the Bradford Congress, said he could not help but to be gloomy about Life Force's future.

He said: "I am sceptical about it. The problem in Bradford is not the that we don't have enough for people to do, it's that there aren't enough people to go round.

"I wish Life Force every success but I'm not too confident. What it needs is people who are constantly coming up with new ideas otherwise it will fail."

Bradford West Labour MP Marsha Singh said: "We haven't really done anything to celebrate the Millennium so Life Force is a very positive step. Every project needs to get its foundations right and it is always much harder to put something together than take it apart."

Bradford South Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe said: "We do have to be careful to keep a watch on the number of projects but I'm sure Life Force is one which can succeed, the national film museum has shown this, and if the attractions jointly promote Bradford they could do even better."

Councillor Richard Wightman, deputy leader of Bradford Council said: "Life Force is a great idea but I do not think it can rely on school trips to keep it afloat."

As well as sections exploring the different faiths and Bradford's famous sons and daughters, a digital archive of memories from people in the area is due to open in about six weeks.

There is also a restaurant and a catering school which is due to run courses for the public and the pub trade.

When a T&A reporter went to Life Force yesterday afternoon only one visitor was present.

Rabbi Walter Rothschild, who was based in Bradford until four years ago, was on a trip back to his home city.

"It's very impressive, it's also impressively empty," he said.

"I haven't seen anyone else in here which is a shame because this is such a great idea. This could really help the communities in Bradford if they only took notice.