Businesses in Birmingham's world-famous Balti belt have called on council leaders to transform the area following the tornado.

Traders in the battered district want to see massive investment which would once again put Birmingham's Indian cuisine at the heart of the city's tourism initiatives.

Council leaders yesterday backed plans to draw up a long-term programme, which would not only help the Sparkbrook area recover from the tornado, but would also breathe new life into one of the most deprived wards in the city.

Speaking at a meeting of the council's ruling cabinet, members from all parties called for regeneration which would create more jobs and boost the district's profile.

The meeting also heard officials outline the next stage of the recovery plan, which could see the traffic cordons on Ladypool Road lifted by Friday, or possibly even tomorrow.

About 40 restaurants are concentrated in the Balti belt of Ladypool Road, Balsall Heath, Stoney Lane and Stratford Road, Sparkbrook, which were the worst-hit areas when the freak weather conditions hit Birmingham.

But despite many roads reopening after contractors made safe storm-damaged buildings, traders estimated that business was still 60 per cent down in cordoned-off streets.

Mohammed Yaqubali, whose restaurant the Lahore Karahi on Ladypool Road is closed due to structural damage, said Balti house owners were having to lay off staff temporarily because of the lack

of through-trade and traffic.

His other restaurant with the same name on nearby Highgate Road had suffered a 70 per cent dip in takings since the tornado, he said.

About 500 people, from chefs to waiters, are employed in the area's Balti industry but fears were growing that the aftermath of the 130mph-plus winds of July 28 could cause more hardship. Yaqubali, who is also chairman of the Ladypool Road Traders Association, said: "People find it difficult to get to my business because of the cordons, that is why we have lost so much trade.

"But once the area is opened up again the council cannot just walk away because we have been neglected for too long.

"It is a very small area, but one that is full of character, and it is known throughout Europe. What happened last week is a great tragedy but we should see this as an opportunity to regenerate this area."

Council leader Mike Whitby (Con Harborne) told the cabinet yesterday that the twister was classified as a T4 tornado.

He added: "It was one of the most devastating tornados that this country has been visited with for almost half a century".

He said the Tornado Task Force - a council-led group which also consists of police, Advantage West Midlands and the Asian Business Forum - would help boost the area for the future, rather than act as a "remedial" organisation.

Sir Albert Bore (Lab Ladywood), leader of the Labour group, said: "I hope we can put together a package for the area that does not address the problem in a street by street, building by building way.

"We can turn that area into something better than it was before.

"To say that in the past there was no regeneration at all in that area is quite wrong. There was a number of schemes, but we need a number of different measures now."