A campaign by residents to ditch postcode ties with Bradford in favour of Leeds has been criticised by Bradford Council's leader.

People living on the Sunnybank estate between Thornbury and Pudsey want to change their Bradford postcodes to Leeds ones in the hope of reducing insurance costs. The 190 residents live on the boundary between the two cities although the area comes under the jurisdiction of Leeds Council.

Campaign leader Councillor Frank Robinson, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Leeds, said many people were unhappy following the Bradford riots but stressed this was not a hate campaign against the city.

"This has been an issue for years," he said. "Insurance rates in BD3 compared to other properties just 100 yards down the road in LS28 are much higher and that is what people are concerned about."

He also claimed there were continual problems with emergency services because of the postcode.

But Bradford Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton said: "I think it is really very sad that this is being whipped up at a time when Bradford has a lot going for it.

"The riots have focused badly on us but there are still many positive things, such as the Channel 4 coverage of cricket in Centenary Square. We have a lot of high-profile people happy to associate themselves with Bradford and I am disappointed this campaign is taking place."

A petition from people living in Sunnybank Lane, Avenue and Grove and those living in Grange Avenue, Grange Grove and Grange View will be given to Leeds City Council.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "Postcode addresses are for routing mail and the geographical identification does not follow council boundaries.

"These postcodes have been in existence for many years and we have no plans to change them.

"How postcodes are used by other businesses has nothing to do with us. We only change postcodes to improve and maintain our level of service to customers."

A spokesman for the Association of Insurers said postcodes were one factor taken into consideration when insurance companies decided rates. Other factors included claims history and the security of property which was covered. "If people do find they are paying different rates to their neighbours because of postcodes then our advice would be to contact the insurance company concerned," he said.