Bradford parents today told the Government in the wake of the last night's House of Lords smacking vote: "Leave the decision to us".

The majority of parents questioned by the Telegraph & Argus agreed with the compromise that in the right cases a gentle tap could be used to discipline a child but that excessive hitting and abuse of children should be severely punished.

Justine Mullins, of Low Moor, who has a 14-month-old daughter Holly, said: "I don't agree with hitting children and I never hit my daughter but I think Government legislation is taking it too far."

The 28-year-old sales assistant said she thought that introducing a law would be like creating a nanny state.

"I think it would be more effective for the Government to provide classes for parents to teach them alternative means of disciplining their children," she said.

Housewife Amanda Braithwaite, from West Bowling, has two daughters, eight-year-old Paris and Tori, aged six months.

She said: "There is a fine line between what is acceptable when disciplining children and what is not.

"I think a tap on the back of the hand or on the bottom doesn't do any harm but anything more is not acceptable."

Miss Braithwaite, 31, said she thought the Government's idea about whether or not you leave a mark on the child being a guideline isn't a bad one.

Andrew Haley, 26, a full-time father, of Great Horton, lives with his wife Kirsty and their two children Oakley, two, and their baby Ashton, six months.

He said: "I think as long as you don't go too far it is okay to hit children."

But Mr Haley stressed that a smack should only be used if a child has done something very naughty not just because they are crying and the parents lose their temper.

"I think it would be very difficult to legislate on this matter," he added.

Shahnaz Ahmad, 31, of Lidget Green, looks after her sons Asif, 11 and Zain, three.

She said: "I thinking smacking becomes more appropriate as the child gets older and they understand why they have been smacked.

"I would not want to have the Government telling me it was not my right to do that but parents who take it too far should be severely punished."

Clare Brack, 26, has two children, Christopher, six, and Chloe, two.

Mrs Brack works as a health care assistant at Bradford Royal Infirmary. She said: "A light tap can be very effective to warn a child if they are trying to do something wrong like touch a hot plate.

"I think there is less of a need for hitting when children get older and they can understand why something is wrong when you explain it to them."

Dalice Khumalo, 52, is a grandmother originally from Zimbabwe.

She said hitting children was part of that country's culture.

"We do believe in disciplining our children to stop them behaving badly," said Mrs Khumalo.