Union leaders fired a broadside at Bradford Council's flagship computing project today - as the new system started.

The authority's £160 million computing contract went live today after months of negotiations which almost saw it collapse under the threat of strike action before it even began.

Council chiefs say the changes should make services to customers quicker and more efficient but union leaders today suggested some of the claims were 'exaggerated' and vowed to fight any job cuts.

The Bradfordi programme has been linked with controversy from the start. The authority hopes its computer department will become more efficient by contracting it out to IT giant IBM.

IBM will work with Serco Solutions over the next decade to run the day-to-day services for Council facilities including the staff helpdesk, central computer servers and even telephone systems.

The next phase should see more reliable systems installed and costs cut.

Months of negotiations over staff management arrangements ended in July with a strike-averting deal being thrashed out by Council managers and the public sector union Unison.

But Unison spokesman Patrick Kerry, while welcoming the investment, today warned: "Outsourcing projects are notorious for making exaggerated claims of savings and this project is no different.

"These savings cannot be made at the expense of employees and, while fully co-operating in changes to work patterns, we will challenge the rationale behind those decisions, consult and negotiate with our employer to ensure any changes are managed."

He added: "We cannot agree to any job losses that will put money in the pockets of private companies and their shareholders. Our aim is to assist the Council to make this special staffing arrangement work, as other local authorities and private sector companies will be closely monitoring our progress."

Despite this Council bosses praised staff from for their "dedication and commitment" to the changes now under way, and the authority's deputy leader, Councillor Kris Hopkins, insisted the benefits were real.

He said: "Residents will enjoy a more efficient service and Council staff will experience improved job satisfaction, opportunities for personal development, reduced bureaucracy and new ways of working to make best use of the new technology."