A decision to crack down on the use of mobile phones is set to provoke a backlash from lawyers attending the magistrates courts in Bradford.

Following complaints from magistrates about mobiles ringing inside courtrooms, their use has now been restricted to the small reception area just inside the building.

But solicitors have reacted angrily, claiming that access to mobile telephones is essential for their work.

Solicitor Kam Dhesi, of Alastair Bateman & Co, said: "The ban will make it difficult for the police to contact us when clients are arrested.

"Under a new contracting scheme we have to respond to that call within 45 minutes of the police notifying us - more often than not, that's by mobile phone. I know there's a problem with mobile phones going off in Court and it's off-putting for everyone, but I think it's going to cause problems for the solicitors not being able to contact their office."

Sarah Waddington, a legal executive with Alan Bridger & Co, said: "Mobile phones are essential. I can understand why we can't use them in the courtroom, but not outside.

"It's mainly the defendants that don't switch their telephones off. Our office needs to contact us to say clients are going to be late. They may get a warrant issued when they have got a perfectly good reason for not being there."

Some lawyers have vowed to defy the ban, which came into force in the Bradford and Bingley courts this week.

"If the concern is about mobiles going off inside the courtroom itself, then the magistrates already have the power to declare that the culprit is in contempt and fine or detain them," said one defence lawyer.

"Using mobiles on the concourse outside the courtrooms has never been a problem as far as I know, so why have they over-reacted in this way?"

The restriction comes only two months after smoking was banned throughout the building - a controversial move which prompted a mixed response.

Philip Limbert, Bradford area director of the West Yorkshire Courts Service, said the problems with mobiles involved professional and public court users.

"The implications for court users have been considered, but the primary concern is to maintain the dignity of the court," he added.