Oh dear. It's a clanger that has left bosses of the already-troubled Millennium Dome floundering for an answer.

Just how could they mix up the proud city of Bradford with the town of Bedford 160 miles away?

"Oh dear, we're sorry. We'll get it changed,'' they proclaimed.

For two maps in the Dome's Work Zone, featuring all the offices of the Manpower recruitment agency, and sponsors of the zone, has replaced Bradford with the Bedfordshire market town - mistakenly moving it 160 miles north.

The error was spotted by eagle-eyed Peter Dolby of Eccleshill, who visited the Dome with his wife Winifred last week.

Bradford-born council worker Mr Dolby, 62, was visiting the Dome during a trip to London.

He said: "I think it's a poor show. They should know their geography a bit better than that. When Bedford's next to Leeds something's gone wrong somewhere!

"We couldn't believe it when we saw it. I don't know what they're thinking of. I think it was probably put together by some southerner who doesn't know anything about Bradford!

"My wife was talking to one of the attendants there and she said no-one had ever mentioned it before.

"I think they should change it to what it should be."

The Work Zone is one of 16 themed areas in the Dome and focuses on how our working lives have changed.

Among the attractions are the world's largest table football game and a maze puzzle where people have to work together to succeed, a clock showing how the average person works 100,000 hours during their working life, and a wall of Post It notes filled with messages showing how we live today.

But Councillor Barry Thorne, Bradford Council's executive member for culture, heritage and leisure, was not very impressed by the gaffe.

He said: "It's typical of the southerners to make a mistake like this and leave Bradford out! It should definitely be reinstated on the map.

"Bradford is a major tourist attraction and I bet we've had more people visit Haworth than have visited the Dome!"

A spokesman for the New Millennium Experience Company, which runs the Dome, said it was a little embarrassing to have confused the two.

He said: "The NMEC apologises for the misprint on the boards in the Work Zone. Rest assured that Bradford will be reinstated in its rightful place in the north of the UK as soon as possible."

A spokesman for Manpower's Bradford office, said: "The simple cartographic error is being rectified and we would like to offer Mr Dolby two complementary tickets to return to the Dome to view this change."

But Mr Dolby said despite his geographical gripe he still thought the Dome was well a worth a visit.

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