A bitter battle of the boundaries erupted today over huge "Welcome to Leeds" signs surrounding east Bradford.

Now Bradford Council is being urged to bite back at its neighbours over the eight green and blue boards dominating the streets on the spots where the post code changes.

Bradford City chairman Geoffrey Richmond and Bulls boss Chris Caisley said Bradford Council should pull its socks up fast and boost its image.

And they are calling for "super-signs" welcoming visitors and telling them that Bradford is the home of the Bulls and Bantams.

The signs have also caused fury in Otley where residents say the town should have its own name emblazoned on signs. The 'Leeds' signs at the boundaries have already been defaced.

Mr Caisley said: "Leeds is clearly trying to say with these signs that it is the centre of the North of England. It gives the impression that Bradford is a village.

"Bradford should have signs showing clearly that is the home of the Bulls and Bantams which are top clubs.

"I think this is just the last straw and says we are a suburb of Leeds. We should fight back and start banging the drum about our two excellent sports clubs and what else we have to offer."

Mr Richmond said he was "totally in agreement" with the Bulls chairman over better signs showing the clubs. He said: "Bradford does not maximise the positives. I think Bradford should be proud of ourselves and the Bulls."

One of the signs has been erected at Leeds Road, Thornbury, just yards from a Bradford sign which is less than half the size.

Ann Watts, 26, a trainee hairdresser said she was shocked at the size of the signs.

"Bradford should hit back and start to sell itself. They've got a cheek. Bradford Council should get a bigger sign and get it lit up. The one they've got now is pathetic."

Her mother Christine, 55, said: "It shouldn't be here. No one here thinks of it as being Leeds. I was born and brought up in Bradford and I'm proud of it."

Leader of the Council's Tory group, Councillor Margaret Eaton: "They are appalling and they are totally ugly. Anyone wanting to put them up in Bradford would have needed planning permission and I'm sure they wouldn't have got it.

"It highlights the fact that Bradford has done nothing in terms of promoting and marketing itself."

But Leeds Council spokesman said: "The claim that Leeds is trying to act as Bradford's 'big brother' by erecting the signs is a nonsense. A lot of thought has gone into the design of the boundary signs. In fact we have been considering their implementation since 1996. Other neighbouring authorities have been establishing their own signs, so it was felt Leeds needed to equally make its boundaries stand out."

"We believe these are quality signs, similar to those used in the London boroughs, unlike some of the brash boundary signs which can be seen in other parts of the country." They are installing 50 sings around Leeds at a cost of £50,000.

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe said: "It is very important that Bradford should have good gateway signs. But maybe it is a sign of the times that Leeds feels its has to do this."

Charles Forgan Chief Executive of Bradford Breakthrough said the cities should not get into "silly rivalries" when both were part of Yorkshire and Humberside and should benefit each other.

But he admitted: "These signs look ugly and ridiculous in some of the rural areas.

Labour ward Councillor John Ryan said: "Bradford has a lot to shout about and it's in our interests to shout as loud as Leeds."

Past President of Bradfor0d Chamber of Trade Mary Frame said: "I have always thought our signs were pathetic and I think we should hit back over this and get something better. We always seem to lag behind Leeds."

Bradford Council leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said he was prepared to listen to any complaints about the signs and have talks with the Bulls and Bradford City.

"The signs into Bradford with the coat of arms are pretty good but we will consider anything to improve the presence and profile of the district."

Leeds Council is installing eight signs on the Bradford boundaries and says planning consent was not required.

The signs are 1.2 metres high 2.1 metres off the ground on poles and 2.7 metres long.

They are at: Bradford and Wakefield Road east of Tong Lane; Leeds Road, Thornbury; Carr Road, Greengates; Otley Road, Baildon Moor towards Bingley; Apperley Lane; Tong Lane; junction 3 of the M621; and Hollins Hill.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.