A BAZAAR in Bradford is set to become the biggest Asian shopping centre in the UK once a planned expansion goes ahead, its owner has said.

The Bradford Bazaar, in Cemetery Road, Lidget Green, Bradford, was first granted a licence to open in 2012 and has now grown to around 100 stalls.

Work will soon start on a £150,000 project to build a new side extension, which will add an extra 35 stalls.

The project also includes a new 50-space car park over the road.

Calverley-based businessman Jas Singh, who goes by the name of Jas Maharaja, said the expansion would create 100 jobs and looked set to make the business "the biggest Asian bazaar in the UK".

Mr Maharaja said the premises was now attracting thousands of customers every week and the extension would add to this.

He said: "We are already one of the biggest bazaars in Yorkshire, but with this extension we are going to be even bigger."

Planning permission was secured for the extension in May last year and Mr Maharaja said they were currently in the process of getting quotes for the building work, with the aim of getting the extension under way by the first week in March.

The bazaar already hosts an array of Asian fabrics, clothing, shows and jewellery, as well as mehndi henna tattoo stalls, but Mr Maharaja said the expansion would allow them to offer a greater number of traders with a wider variety of stock.

He said: "We will have new shops inside, selling different products like hosiery and make-up.

"So it will be a mixture of everything.

"A customer will be able to buy everything, from household goods right up to fashion."

Mr Maharaja said Bradford was well and truly on the up and people were now visiting the city from all over the north of England, attracted by The Broadway and City Park.

He said this was having a noticeable impact on his business.

He said: "There has been a big change. We have got City Park, which is fantastic for Bradford, we have got The Broadway.

"We are now getting customers coming from Middlesbrough, Oldham, Rochdale, Sheffield.

"It has made a lot of difference and a lot has changed in the last four or five years.

"At the moment, we are on the top of the map.

"We had a fantastic year last year. The bazaar is getting very busy.

"At the weekends, throughout Saturday and Sunday, we get at least 2,000 people in. It is getting very busy now.

"Now we are moving into the wedding season so hopefully things will remain busy."