Angry pensioners have launched a petition against plans to re-route a bus service away from Shelf.

They claim moving services on to Halifax Road and Hope Street from tomorrow will make it difficult for elderly people to get around.

Almost 40-people have signed the petition to keep the 681/682 service on West Lane and Shelf Hall Lane. They are backed by Shelf Ward Councillor Roger Taylor.

Lorna Willemse, of Belle Vue Road, pictured with fellow elderly residents, started the campaign at the Thursday Club in Shelf Village Hall after pensioners complained about the changes.

She said: "This is an area where there are a lot of old people who rely on these buses because they can't physically walk long distances.

"If the service is changed some of them will be confined to their homes, when they need to get to Shelf village to go to the chemists or shops or post office and they have no other form of transport."

Florence Austin, of Belle Vue Crescent, said: "There are a lot of elderly people here and we would have to walk to Halifax Road, which would take me about ten minutes. Some of the others are almost lame.

"If it was bad weather and you had to carry your shopping you would really struggle."

Denis Sharp, of Cross Lane, said the bus was often full to its 72-seater capacity and the four stops which would be missed out were well-used.

"I was talking to a lady who is 88 and a gentleman who is 89 who go to Tesco at Buttershaw and they say when the service is re-routed they will be confined to the house because they can't get across Halifax Road, as it is too busy."

Councillor Taylor urged people to support the petition which he claimed was organised after a "hasty and unannounced" decision by First Bradford.

"I am aware that inconsiderate parking along West Street causes bus drivers problems. However there are minor traffic measures due along West Street which include extending the no-parking length of that street, which can only help clear the passage of buses."

First Bus in Bradford said parked cars regularly blocked the route and on one occasion a bus had been stuck for an hour.

Spokesman Brandon Jones said: "We are attempting to alleviate a problem and we cannot continue in the current position. If a vehicle cannot get through then we are not running services reliably and it is inconveniencing our customers.

"We are happy to work with the local authority and Metro to solve the problem but until we resolve it we will continue to operate on Halifax Road and Hope Street."

Passengers travelling from Bradford to Halifax are also being advised the buses will operate via Hall Ings - bus stop H11 at Jacobs Well - instead of the Tyrls. For further timetable details contact Metroline on (0113) 245 7676.