MPs have backed calls for the removal of obscene graffiti dominating the train route into Bradford amid fears it could harm the city's Capital of Culture bid.

Hundreds of passengers and visitors pass the three-foot-high slogans, pictured, on the rail approach to the Interchange every day.

Mark Leving, accounts manager for Railtrack, has promised to remove the murals, some featuring four-letter words, after the issue was highlighted by regular rail traveller Michael Yates.

Mr Yates wrote to the chief executive of Railtrack, John Armitt, after becoming fed up of travelling past the obscenities day after day on his way to work.

He said: "I find it offensive to travel past this mess. It isn't something that passengers should have to put up with.

"It can't do the city's cause much good if these obscenities are visible to every Euro inspector who chooses to travel by rail."

Terry Rooney, MP for Bradford North, agreed the graffiti is blighting the image of the city and could harm the bid.

He said: "It is just horrendous.

"When people see this kind of thing it creates a very negative impact and is a deterrent to people returning to visit the city. Anyone coming into Bradford for the first time is going to think the place is a dump."

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe has also backed Mr Yates. In a letter of support, he said: "If Bradford is to succeed in gaining the Capital of Culture status we have to ensure the gateways into the city do not offend anyone visiting Bradford."

Bradford West MP Marsha Singh also pledged to write to Railtrack highlighting the issue of graffiti near the track.

Councillor Margaret Eaton, leader of Bradford Council, said education is needed to get more people to take pride in their city.

"The Council is attempting to clean up the gateways into the city because we want to make every effort to be as welcoming to visitors as possible," she said.

"I do not like to see anything that gives a bad impression of Bradford."

A spokesman for Railtrack said: "We have a policy of removing graffiti when it is racist or obscene.

"Railtrack officials will be going out to investigate the complaints and checking what the nature of the graffiti is and where it is on the line near the station.

"This will happen in the next few days and appropriate action will be taken after the investigation."