A world-renowned toy store chain is set to open its first outlet in Bradford, the Telegraph & Argus can reveal.

Toys R Us is aiming to launch the new store at Manningham Lane Retail Park, at the junction of Hamm Strasse and Manningham Lane, this autumn.

Workers are in the process of converting two units into one large shop for the chain in a move that should provide a timely boost for the retail park, which has several unoccupied units.

A spokesman for Toys R Us said: “We are looking to open this autumn. Bradford is an area we have been looking at for many years to try to find the right location.

“There will be job creation. At this stage, I don’t know how many vacancies but we’ll be looking to start recruiting in the next couple of months.

“It’s good news, especially in today’s environment.”

Business bosses in Manningham Lane are hoping the opening of a well-know store will boost their trade by bringing more shoppers into the area.

James Hornby, deputy manager at Pound Stretcher Extra, which will be next door but one to the new Toys R Us store, said: “I think it’s good.

“We welcome it because we don’t really see it as competition, if anything it could bring more customers into the area.”

Elaine Kilgallon, landlady of the Bradford Arms pub, said: “To be quite honest, I don’t think it will do that well because shops along here seem to open and then close again more or less straight away.

“Saying that, I suppose a toy shop may be handy because there aren’t that many around.

“I think the next nearest is Toymaster in the city centre. We used to have Carter’s but that went.”

Mohammed Latif, from the PC Vision internet cafe on Manningham Lane, said: “Time will tell whether it’s good or not. There are lots of young families in the area and I think they will certainly pop into a toy shop.

“This lane is very busy with people passing to go into the city centre and people often park in that retail park and walk into the city centre, so I think they’ll use Toys R Us as well.”

Sheila Petty, of Connaught Carpets, at the junction of Manningham Lane and Brearton Street, opposite the retail park, said: “If it brings custom back to this area, then it’s welcome because at the moment there are very few shops over there or on either side of us.

“If people go to Toys R Us, they might think ‘there’s a carpet shop across the road, let’s go and have a look’. We need to keep some custom in Manningham Lane because, at the moment, people only park there to walk into the city centre.”