Bus passes should be given to all Bradford councillors to clear the district's snarled up roads and cut pollution, a councillor has claimed.

But Wyke Labour ward Councillor Tony Niland, who made the call, has been told he cannot have one because there is no guarantee it would not be used for personal journeys which would be a misuse of public funds.

He is to put a notice of motion to the Council calling for passes for all, pointing out they were cheaper than paying mileage expenses to councillors who opted to drive to meetings.

"It seemed the obvious thing to do and I was very surprised when I was told by the legal department that public funds might be misused," he said.

"We should be doing everything we can to help the environment, rather than just getting in cars and claiming our mileage allowance. I think we should set a good example.

"I choose to travel by bus or walk but it's a nuisance to remember to keep the tickets.

"In fact I've just given up now and I don't claim anything."

Coun Keith Thomson (Lab, Wibsey), chairman of the environment scrutiny committee, said: "It is an excellent idea and I fully support it.

"I don't think for a minute that councillors would go off and use their cards for shopping trips."

Most of Bradford's 90 councillors travel by car, claiming more than £41,000 a year in mileage.

Passes covering the county which can be used on buses and trains, cost from just under £500 a year which would equate to about £45,000 a year.

But councillors also get 14p a mile for motorcycles and even 8.5p a mile for bikes.

Councillor Stanley King (Con, Heaton), a former Lord Mayor of Bradford, said councillors who were members of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority already received Metro cards and used them.

"Providing it was of no extra cost to Bradford Council I would be interested.