Fun has finally run out at an historic Shipley fairground, marking the end of an era.

Shipley Glen Pleasure Ground which dates back to Edwardian times closed its gates at 6pm yesterday for the last time.

Alan Breeze, who has run it for 20 years, blamed the closure of the the attraction, in Prod Lane at the top of Shipley Glen Tramway, on having to pay too much rent.

Mr Breeze said: "We have got a lot of loyal customers who are upset to see us go. They have all been coming up to say their goodbyes.

"There has been a lot of history at this fairground and many families have enjoyed great days out.

"It will be missed by many and the area will be a worse place without it."

He has appealed for help to find a site for the fairground which had five rides, amusements and a bouncy castle.

Bradford Council is helping look for a different location but so far the search has failed.

The original pleasure ground was built in Edwardian times to accompany a thriving tea-shop serving visitors to the Glen.

Last year the fairground was in the news after one of its oldest rides, a 1930s aerial glide was pulled down.

The ride was given emergency Grade II listed status in 2003 after residents worried about its future contacted English Heritage. But the all-clear to dismantle it was finally given after an inspector saw how corroded it was and estimated it would cost about £50,000 to repair.

Yesterday's closure was particularly sad for Mike Short who lives near the fairground and first started visiting it half a century ago when he was four.

"It's a sad day for many generations of Bradfordians who have had fun there. It's closure was unnecessary. I had hoped the Council would have stepped in and bought the land.

"In an ideal world it could have turned it over to the Trust that runs the tramway which could have continued as landlords and kept renting it out to Mr Breeze at a more affordable rate."

Mr Short now fears the fairground's absence will hit the number of visitors attracted to the tramway and the countryside around the Glen.

Paul Teale, company secretary for Teale Brothers which owns the site, caused a storm of protest in 2003 with plans to get residential status for it and sell it off to a housing developer. It is unallocated in the Council's Unitary Development Plan.

But today he said he had now had no plan for the funfair site and that it would stay empty.

He said: "It will go back to being land next to my house. It's a big house and it's getting harder to look after. In case I have to sell up quickly I don't want the funfair lease to be hanging round my neck."

And he said: "The funfair was under threat when I bought the land in 1965. At least I've kept it going for 40 more years."