'New name' for merchants' quarter

Councillor Janke says the name is to be changed

A council leader claims a controversial name for a £500m redevelopment in Bristol is to be changed.

Some groups had complained the name, Merchants' Quarter, was offensive because it glorified the city's historic slave trading past.

But Bristol Alliance - behind the project - said merchants had played a crucial role in the story of the city.

Barbara Janke, Leader of Bristol City Council, told the BBC: "I have been told the name has been dropped."

The Bristol Alliance refused to comment on the possible name change and said it would release a statement on Thursday.

The debate over the controversial renaming of the revamped area has raged for several months.