Three former Lord Mayors of Bradford face the axe as councillors after being rejected by their own party.

Despite having more than 50 years' experience on Bradford Council between them, the trio have been ousted as Labour Party candidates for the district's May elections.

Now councillors Bob Sowman, Danny Mangham and Gordon Mitchell face having to retire after more than 50 years on the authority - without even going to the polls.

All three said they were "shocked and disappointed" by the decision.

The former Lord Mayors attended individual private interviews with a regional Labour party board for places on a panel of approved prospective candidates.

Party rules mean Labour branches have to choose their candidates from the panel and adopt them.

Today the three Labour veterans were reeling from the decision and said they had immediately appealed.

Bradford Council's Labour group was also left stunned as it faced a tough election without its most senior members.

Labour is fighting to defend 17 seats on the hung Council in May after suffering a rout in the 1999 elections, ending a decade of dominance. The Tories are defending ten seats and Lib-Dems three.

Labour has 41 seats on the hung Council, Conservative 37, the Lib-Dems 11 and Greens one. At the moment the Lib-Dems support the Tory leadership, giving them a majority on most issues and leaving Labour needing to wrestle back most seats from the Tories and Lib-Dems to regain control.

Most Labour members seeking re-election have now been selected by the regional party for the panel.

But a fourth former Lord Mayor, Councillor Tony Miller (Lab, Shipley East), is still awaiting an interview date.

He said today: "I feel confident and vigorous and hope to demonstrate my effectiveness as a councillor for more than 20 years."

A Bradford councillor already selected for the panel said: "The interviews were absolutely straight forward and I can't believe that three councillors of their experience would have had any difficulty at all. No-one can understand this. They have always been loyal members. Everyone is shocked."

But the Telegraph & Argus understands that the Labour Party's national hierarchy has a keen eye on Bradford after losing control of what it considered to be a key city.

Westminster sources told the T&A that there is a general feeling in the New Labour Government that new blood is needed in Bradford to replace the "old guard."

Bradford Council has also received unwelcome national publicity about its lack of clear political leadership in reports into the summer riots and race relations in the district.

In the past, the approved panel of candidates has been chosen by the district Labour party, without the involvement of the region.

But district chairman Andrew Stone said they had asked the regional party to take over for the first time.

He said: "We were unable to get enough people who didn't have an interest because a lot wanted to be on the panel."

But Mr Stone said the district Labour party would oversee the selections by the local branches.

Coun Sowman, 71, represents Undercliffe and is chairman of the powerful Newlands Partnership, which is spearheading a £17.6 million regeneration programme in North Bradford. He has served continuously on the Council for 23 years and was Lord Mayor from 1993-4.

He said today: "I have some arguments to make and evidence to present and firmly believe I will overturn the decision.

"It is a shock, but it has been more of a shock to other people. I am disappointed by the decision. It is difficult to appreciate the value that you put on interviews."

He said he could not discuss the reason for the rejection.

Coun Mangham, 73, became Lord Mayor in 1994, just three months after having a triple heart by-pass operation. He was elected to the Wyke ward in 1979.

He said: "I was not happy with the reasons they gave and I am shocked and disappointed. But I don't know when my appeal will be heard."

Coun Mitchell, 70, who now represents Clayton won the Odsal ward in 1977. He was Lord Mayor from 1996-97.

He said: "I am unable to understand it and my family are annoyed."

A regional Labour party spokesman said he could not comment on individual cases.

But he said potential candidates were interviewed by the regional board and those who appealed would go for interviews with members of the North West board.

But he pointed out that a number of applicants who were not serving councillors had also been turned down for the panel and were appealing.

Labour group leader on the Council Ian Greenwood said he could not comment on internal party matters.