Pedestrians are risking their lives by clambering over the barriers of Bradford's £12 million state-of-the-art guided bus route.

They are ignoring a dozen pedestrian crossings provided along the route. To save time, they hop over the fences and run across - often with buses just yards away.

And members of Bradford passenger transport consultative committee were told that in the latest incident a woman with two young children was seen lifting the tots over the barrier and leaving them to play in the bus lane while she clambered over herself.

Now bus company First is planning to use loudspeakers to tell people when buses are coming along the route.

Member Mike Tarran, who saw the incident with the woman and children, said: "Large numbers of people are doing this right along Manchester Road. They could be killed.

"People have been campaigning for another crossing, but I doubt very much if it would be used."

Chairman Councillor John Prestage (Lab, Keighley South) said he is shocked at how people are so blatantly putting their lives on the line.

"I would appeal to people to use the crossings," he said. "It isn't just themselves being put in danger - it's the bus drivers and other passengers."

Andy Campbell, Managing Director of Bradford's First bus company, said drivers are aware of the problem and have been told to "beep" to let people know they are there.

But he said there is little they can do legally because it is a public highway.

Mr Campbell told the committee that pedestrian crossings in the guided scheme are being made safer with more "green and red men signs".

He said hi-tech equipment would also be used in an experiment where a loudspeaker would tell people there was a bus on the way.

Members were told by Council officers that nearly 6,000 bus services were monitored by Metro and inspectors for the North Eastern Traffic Commissioner between February 18 and March 3.

They were checked for reliability against published timetables and the conduct of drivers.

The way they dealt with passengers also came under scrutiny.

A detailed report will be sent to the Traffic Commissioners who could hold a public inquiry if standards are not being met.

Councillor Ann Ozolins (Lib Dem, Idle) said it is vital for the report to be made public and people should have a chance to comment on it.