Dialling phone numbers in Bradford could soon take nearly twice as long under Ofcom proposals to change the way people make local calls.

The aim is to free up a lot of new telephone numbers to meet growing demand.

The change would mean people in the 01274 phone area would always have to include the area code when dialling a local number from a landline.

At present the code can be omitted for local calls, but this means Ofcom is unable to allocate local numbers beginning with a zero or a one.

Ofcom is proposing to bring in the measure on October 1, 2014, in Bradford and four other areas of the UK where the supply of telephone numbers is running lowest due to high demand.

Bradford Chamber of Commerce policy executive Mike Cartwright said he did not think the change would have financial implications for local business.

He said: “I have to say I’ve never seen a business card or letter heading which didn’t already have the full telephone number on it.”

An Ofcom spokesman said phone services had increased significantly in Bradford.

He said: “The number of communications providers offering services in Bradford has increased significantly over the last ten years, leading to more competition and cheaper landline bills for millions of homes and businesses.

“But it has also led to increased pressure on the supply of new phone numbers,” he said.

Requiring landline callers to use the code locally is intended to safeguard the future supply of new landline numbers and avoid the need for more disruptive measures, such as changing existing phone numbers.

The cost of calls would not be affected and those who dial without the area code after the change would hear a recorded message asking them to include it.

The measure was first implemented in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (the 01202 area) in November last year, and the process ran smoothly.

The Bradford consultation closes on September 13 and Ofcom expects to publish its decision in a statement later in the autumn.