The historic Parliamentary seat of Bradford North is set to be scrapped.

Under Boundary Commission proposals, it will be replaced by a new, slightly larger constituency called Bradford East.

The Little Horton ward, currently split between Bradford's three constituencies - North, South and West - will become part of Bradford East.

Terry Rooney, the Labour MP who holds a 12,936 majority in Bradford North, said: "The constituency has always been more east than north. It's not something I'll be campaigning against."

A Commission spokesman said: "We propose that Bradford North should be named Bradford East to better reflect the new constituency's composition."

Commission chiefs decided to redraw the boundaries to reduce the 5,296-voter disparity between the most densely and sparsely populated constituencies in the city to just 3,662.

But they also wanted to ensure the city's 30 new councils wards, which came into effect for the council elections in June, are not split between constituencies. Currently, 16 cross boundaries.

The Commission spokesman said: "We do not divide wards between constituencies and the proposals will remove these anomalies.

"The changes will balance the constituency electorates and produce an acceptable electoral disparity in the city."

Members of the public will have a chance to comment on the changes, published yesterday.

This could be followed by a public inquiry or modifications to the boundaries before the changes become law.

Bradford will retain its five constituencies. They will be:

Bradford East (electorate in 2000: 70,863) consisting of the council wards of Bolton and Undercliffe, Bowling and Barkerend, Bradford Moor, Eccleshill, Idle and Thackley, and Little Horton.

Bradford South (67,201): Great Horton, Queensbury, Royds, Tong, Wibsey and Wyke.

Bradford West (69,967): City, Clayton and Fair-weather Green, Heaton, Manning-ham, Thornton and Allerton, and Toller.

Keighley (68,652): Craven, Ilkley, Keighley Central, Keighley East, Keighley West and Worth Valley.

Shipley (69,427): Baildon, Bingley, Bingley Rural, Shipley, Wharfedale, Windhill and Wrose.

The Boundary Commission has also proposed disbanding the traditional link between Kirklees and Wakefield. Kirklees will retain four Parliamentary seats.

The Heckmondwike ward, which straddles the constituencies of Batley & Spen and Dewsbury, would be included wholly in Batley & Spen.

Batley & Spen, which had an electorate in 2000 of 75,443 and is represented by MP Mike Wood, would consist of Batley East, Batley West, Birstall and Birkenshaw, Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike, Liversedge and Gomersal.

The consultation period ends on October 29.