More than 280 junior doctors took up jobs in hospitals across the district today amid fears from the British Medical Association it could cause problems for patients.

The BMA said operations and clinics could be cancelled because of changes to way junior doctors are recruited.

More than twice the normal number of junior doctors began jobs today - 30,000 nationally - because of a shake-up which has ended staggered start days.

At Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital, 200 junior doctors started work today.

A spokesman for the trust said: "We are currently in the very early stages of this rotation and are working very hard to ensure that changes to patient care will be minimised."

Dr Philip Bickford Smith, a consultant anaesthetist at Bradford Teaching Hospitals and a representative of the British Medical Association, said he had been in the operating room since 8am today and work had been unaffected by the influx of junior staff.

"As far as I know everything is working as normal and going smoothly," he said.

At Airedale General Hospital, near Steeton, 81 new junior doctors took up jobs.

John Sutcliffe, of Airedale NHS Trust, said: "There are unprecedented numbers.

"They are new to the hospital so have to familiarise themselves with it.

"However, we have been aware of what was going to happen for some time and have been taking mitigating action to ensure the impact is minimal and that patient safety is not compromised."