A major play and sports scheme in deprived Barkerend, Bradford, has been included in a multi-million pound blueprint to breathe new life into the area.

The scheme, at Bradford Moor park, Myra Shay, Gilpin Street and Seymour Street, will include cricket fields, with practice nets, football pitches and changing rooms. There would also be children's play areas.

Bradford Congress is expected to approve the submission of the scheme, set to cost thousands of pounds, as part of a bid for £28.5 million from the Government's Single Regeneration Budget.

Congress, which is made up of all the district's leading organisation, will then submit it in the hope of getting a slice of the £280 million set aside for the SRB by the Government.

On Friday, documents for the bid will go to the Government's regeneration arm, Yorkshire Forward.

It is hoped 400 people will have gained jobs by the end of the seven-year scheme if the bid succeeds. It is also estimated that other funding will be drawn in to make the £70.4 million scheme a reality.

At least three sites will be earmarked for new homes to encourage residents to stay in Barkerend.

High-profile police foot patrols would be brought in and former offenders would take part in schemes where they would make contributions to the community. Closed circuit television would also be developed.

By the end of the programme, 360 residents would have attended education and training classes and the level of parental involvement in schools would have tripled.

A shadow board has now been set up comprising councillors, community representatives, business people and members of agencies including the health authority.

The Council has worked closely with the community to develop the proposals.

Ismail Laher, chairman of the shadow board, said: "We have come a long way in a very short time, but I am extremely confident that this bid will be successful. Local people are ready and waiting to get behind the projects."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.