Bradford Council is set to open a new city centre car park, in a major boost for shoppers and workers.

The Council has applied for planning consent to convert land in Nelson Street into a 200-space pay and display parking area following the closure of the Vicar Lane car park.

The Council has already opened a free temporary car park in Thornton Road and drivers who use it can ride on a shuttle bus service into the city centre.

The Council says the shuttle service is popular with people who decide to use it but the 300-space car park is only about half full.

A Council spokesman said it was hoped to convert the land over the next few weeks and motorists would have only a short walk to the heart of the city.

Motorists will pay the same fees as the former 1,600-space Vicar Lane car park, which included £2 for a full day.

The spokesman said the privately-owned land on the site of a former garage was scheduled for redevelopment and the length of time it was used depended if any company wanted to take it over.

Shopping chain Tesco originally expressed an interest in it, but then switched to create a new store in Canal Road.

J J Gallagher, developers of the planned leisure centre at Vicar Lane, will include a 1,600-space multi-storey car park.

But the facility - which will also serve users of the multi-million pound leisure centre - will not be open until next year.

Jeff Frankel, chairman of Bradford Retail Action Group, said: "We are pleased with any extra city centre parking. There can never be too much of it."

J J Gallagher has signed up Cine-UK to take a 16-screen multiplex cinema and major health club at Vicar Lane.

Executive member for regeneration Councillor Simon Cooke said: "Anything which will relieve the loss of parking spaces through regeneration is to be welcomed and will help the traders."