New calls to get smacking banned have split opinion across Bradford.

The Commons Health Committee yesterday urged the Government to ban smacking in an upcoming Green Paper on children at risk. It follows the case of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie who died at the hands of her great aunt.

And the Human Rights Committee warned the defence in the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 is incompatible with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. New prosecution guidelines could be introduced to ensure that mild smacking does not lead to a court case, its members suggested.

Tony Blair rejected the calls from both committees. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We continue to believe this is a matter of individual choice for parents. The Government believes that most parents accept and understand that there is a clear and fundamental difference between discipline and abuse."

In Bradford families can get special help to cope with discipline in the home.

Christine Clavering, unit manager from Bradford Council's Family Support Unit, said: "It is all about an adult being able to contain their own anger.

"It is clear that smacking damages children, yet there is no point in saying to parents "you must not smack" without putting in some support for them - to help control their own frustrations."

The FSU helps families look at other ways of controlling children's behaviour. They deal with families referred by social services, schools or self-referred but always with the families' agreement. Their alternative methods to smacking include:

l walking away yourself from a situation and calming down then coming back to it

l setting boundaries and routines and being clear about what behaviour you will let go

l restraining rather than smacking smaller children usually works

l in older children using methods such as stopping television, sweets or pocket money may work.

Parents in Bradford gave the ban plans a mixed reception - with most who spoke to the Telegraph & Argus in favour of retaining the right to smack.

David Ross, of East Bowling, said: "If kids are naughty they deserve a smack. The Government has gone too soft. These days they know what they are doing. They say 'touch me and I'll go to the police'. A proper smack in the right manner does no harm."

Sarah Arron, mother of three-year-old Shaun, of Little Horton, said: "I do smack him but only when he is naughty. I don't bray him. They have to have some kind of punishment."

Claire Hindle, 20, of Bierley said she had never hit her little girl Tanisha. "She is just not a bad child. She does as she is told. I know that sounds unbelievable but it's true. If she starts behaving badly I just walk away and let things calm down until her tantrum has gone away. I think smacking is horrible.."

Andrea Conway, 23, of Woodside, has always disciplined her daughters Chloe, three, and one-year-old Jade.

"I think it is very important to show them discipline from when they are very young - and that can be done in various ways I would smack them on the hand if they really push me but no more."

Tracey Hutchinson, of Lilycroft, said: "There is a difference between smacking a child and abusing one. I always feel bad afterwards. If you don't punish them when they are little then the police end up doing it when they are a lot older."