Passengers travelling on Bradford's multi-million-pound guided-bus project are reaching the city centre faster than cars.

The latest survey shows in the morning peak hour the Manchester Road buses beat the cars by three minutes.

And there is an overall time saving of more than two minutes, even though nine additional pelican crossings have been provided to benefit pedestrians, according to figures released today.

The large number of pedestrian crossings sparked anger from motorists who predicted they would create major traffic jams as traffic frequently stopped and then started again.

The increase in passengers on the guided-bus lane since it opened is also higher than anywhere else in Bradford as people try out the innovative system which is one of the first in Britain.

The overall increase in bus usage in the district is two per cent - but the guided-bus figure is 2.2 per cent. The annual progress report on the West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan also shows 63 per cent of passengers surveyed ranked the Manches-ter Road service as good or very good.

But Odsal ward councillor Dave Green (Lab) said the system has prompted rat-running in surrounding streets. "I would also have liked to see work connected with the guided-bus route tying in with the roadworks being carried out by utility services," he said. "It has been constant roadworks, but I am pleased people are using it."

Councillor Ann Ozolins (Lib Dem, Idle), a Bradford representative on the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Author-ity, said: "It is very good news and I now think we should be looking at other areas, including Wakefield Road."

The success of the scheme was also welcomed by Bradford Council's executive member for the environment, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth.

And Green councillor David Ford (Shipley West) said: "I think we must now look at innovative public transport systems in other areas."

The report shows targets to improve the punctuality of buses and reduce the number being cancelled were not on track, however.

The five West Yorkshire local authorities set targets of at least 95 per cent of bus services running no more than six minutes late and no services running early.

But Khadim Hussain, operations director for Bradford's First bus company, said many situations over which the company had no control - including roadworks - contributed to the trend.

First has just reorganised large numbers of services to make them more punctual in view of heavy traffic on some roads.