A unique campaign has been launched in Bradford - to get people to complain.

Local Government Ombudsman Pat Thomas wants to hear from people who believe they have suffered injustices.

And she stresses that she does not just deal with the big cases which hit the headlines - like alleged child abuse in Newcastle or the row in Morpeth where the body of a person who died in a nursing home was described as "trade waste."

She is happy to help the people of Bradford with the smallest problem - but will first decide if there is a case.

And, if the complaint is proved, she will want an apology from the Council for the complainant, possible compensation, and, preferably, innovative and constructive ways of putting things right.

Mrs Thomas, the North of England Ombudsman, who is appointed by the Queen, says she is aiming her campaign at ethnic minorities and young people, who are often not aware of the service.

She has picked Bradford and Leeds for the pilot because of the wide range of communities and is being strongly supported by Bradford and Keighley Racial Equality Councils

In nine months, since last March, she has received 81 complaints about Bradford Council, compared with 87 from 1997-98.

The latest, which is not yet finished, is from people at the problem-torn private development at Apperley Bridge.

People who complain vital work on the luxury development is still not complete are alleging maladministration by the Council.

Of last year's cases, 37 resulted in the Council, being cleared of maladministration and she made no critical reports.

She said: "Some cases are small but are absolutely crucial to the people involved.

"Bradford is one of our better authorities and has its own good complaints procedure which people can use.

Mrs Thomas, who was appointed in 1985, and is the former Head of Law at Lanchashire Polytechnic and was Chairman of Greater Manchester Rent Assessment Panel.

The average time for dealing with a case is 13 months, with 60 per cent concluded in 13 weeks. But Mrs Thomas says the aim is to speed things up.

And while some people criticise the Ombudsman service for having "no teeth" she points out that her powers are wide ranging, and result in action to put things and even subsequent inquiries.

She has the investigative powers of the High Court and people can be subpoenaed if they refuse to give evidence.

She said: "I find my job enormously interesting. Both Bradford and Leeds take complaints seriously and have a good reputation."

She said she had been impressed in one case where a member of the public complained he could not sell his house because of loud noise - and the Council involved subsequently bought it.

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