BAN-THE-BOMB campaigners wheeled an imitation nuclear warhead through the streets of Bradford in a protest against the renewal of the Trident programme.

The newly-formed Bradford branch of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament braved heavy rain on Saturday to take the 20ft model of Trident on a tour of the city centre, stopping to chat to members of the public outside The Broadway and in City Park.

The group, which held its inaugural meeting last week, also displayed a banner which said 'Yorkshire needs flood defences NOT nuclear offences'.

Muhktar Ali, a former Bradford councillor and peace campaigner, said: "These weapons are a cold war relic that serve no purpose other than draining billions from the economy. That money could be far better spent in other areas of investment, such as health and education."

Aleksandra Maria Czech, a student at Bradford University, said: "I'm a student and I'm really worried about my future.

"We are seeing student nurses lose their bursaries, increased debt for young people trying to get a career, or a home while billions of pounds are being pumped into developing a nuclear weapons system that threatens the lives of us all."

The stunt was organised to highlight a national demonstration against the renewal of Britain's nuclear deterrent, which is being held in London on February 27.