Some fed-up Bradford MPs will tell the leader of the House of Commons they want to stop being "early birds" and switch back to their traditional 2.30pm starting time.

They say the bid to make life easier for them has done the opposite and they want to turn the clock back to the good old days.

Halifax Labour MP Alice Mahon is leading pressure for a u-turn last year on a decision to start sessions at 9.30am sharp to end the need for late night sittings.

She said: "It has ruined Parliament. I have found it inconvenient and so have many MPs. Even the London members say they still stay late to do the work and one has said he hardly ever sees his children."

The then House of Commons leader Robin Cook brought in the early start to help MPs leave London earlier to improve their family lives.

But Mrs Mahon will be supported by Labour MPs Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South) and Terry Rooney (Bradford North) in wanting to go back to the old system.

Mr Sutcliffe said he missed speaking to ministers because of the earlier finishes and questions and debate had been squeezed into a smaller time frame. "It is OK for MPs who live close by but for the rest of us it is not the boost that we thought it would be", he said.

Now they will ask the new House of Commons leader John Reid to allow a vote on returning to the old system rather than wait for the six month review period originally agreed.

But Shipley Labour MP Chris Leslie - a local government minister - said it was better for students to see Parliament in action rather than the empty rooms of the past.

He said the official start and finish times did not matter because his working day started in the morning whether the House was in session or not.

Keighley Labour MP Ann Cryer, said: "I work a 13 hour day either way, whatever happens I will be there at 8 am and leave at 9pm. I don't think that there's a magic wand that anyone can wave to reduce the hours."

Bradford West Labour MP Marsha Singh was not available for comment.