Businesses and residents are being consulted about plans to stage a major Sikh procession which will involve closing city centre streets.

Bradford's Sikh community is planning to mark its Vaisakhi celebrations with two processions this year.

The annual procession to mark the 301st anniversary of the birth of Khalsa has become increasingly popular over the years and now attracts up to 7,000 people.

Usually it is held on the nearest Sunday to the anniversary. But this year it is planned to march on the actual day - Thursday, April 13 - as well as Sunday, April 9.

The procession, which calls at six temples, lasts for about six hours and involves the closure of several streets.

Letters are being sent out to local businesses and residents on the proposed route of the weekday procession.

Various organisations, including the emergency services, bus companies and utilities, are also being consulted about the road closures.

Three roads - Joseph Street, Gobind Marg and Leeds Road (right turn slip road into Gobind Marg) - will be closed from 8am to 5pm but most of the other roads will be reopened as soon as possible after the procession has moved on. However, the Council says it is inevitable there will be severe disruption to traffic at certain times.

Councillor Latif Darr, Executive Member for Transportation and Planning, said: "We recognise the importance of this event to the local Sikh community and we are consulting with all services and businesses in the immediate areas which are likely to be affected in order to minimise disruption."

Chief Inspector Ray Shepherd, of Bradford Central Police, said: "This year two processions are planned and they will move from temple to temple throughout the city. Temporary road closures will be necessary to ensure public safety."

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