More parents will be forced to tackle their nuisance children after it emerged that tough powers to improve behaviour have rarely been used in Bradford.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said last week he wanted to see more parenting orders issued in a bid to prevent young people becoming involved in crime and anti-social behaviour.

But new figures reveal JPs in Bradford have issued only 67 orders since their introduction five years ago.

That is an average of only 13 a year since 2000-01, according to the Home Office.

And it is significantly fewer than similar-sized cities elsewhere in England. Sunderland courts have imposed 309 parenting orders and there have been 163 in Leicester.

Sixty have been imposed in Kirklees and 45 in Calderdale.

Councils, local education authorities and youth offending teams can apply for parenting orders. But under new plans being drafted by the Government, these powers will be extended to housing officers and local anti-social behaviour teams. Parenting orders will also be imposed if children start showing a

"propensity" for loutish behaviour.

The revamped orders are part of the Prime Minister's so-called "respect agenda" aimed at stamping out anti-social behaviour and violent crime.

Mr Blair said: "The importance of the family is that it's in the family that we have to come to terms with the idea of give and take and respect for other people. People need to understand that if their kids are out of control there is something that is going to happen."

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "The Bradford and District Youth Offending Team is committed to reducing crime by supporting parents and by addressing the risks that lead to young people offending.

"The team offers a range of support services to parents of young offenders and delivers parenting programmes to those who have been made subject to a parenting order. Many parents find this support helpful."