A leaflet produced by Bradford Council to promote a special event in honour of war veterans has been described as “insulting” by the district’s branch of a veterans’ association.

The leaflet is designed to raise awareness of the 2010 Bradford Veterans’ Day on Sunday in Centenary Square.

But Bill Carpenter, secretary of the Bradford branch of the Burma Star Association, is far from impressed by the content of the leaflet.

The 85-year-old, from Brighouse, who served for 34 years in the RAF, said: “On the leaflet, there are six photographs of which four portray American uniforms. There only appears to be one that shows some British ex-servicemen.

“I have nothing against American servicemen – I think they performed wonderfully during the war – but this is going over the top in terms of their representation. I bet if this was a veterans’ day in America, you would not find American leaflets with four British servicemen on the front. I don’t know who chose these pictures.

“The final insult was the picture in the bottom left hand corner of a Union Flag upside down. They fly the flag over City Hall so they must know which way up it goes.”

Mr Carpenter, who served in Burma and the Far East in the Second World War, said he had e-mailed Bradford Council about the “insulting” leaflet.

Jane Glaister, the Council’s strategic director of culture, tourism and sport, said: “We are sorry if the leaflet has caused any offence but all the pictures used are either of the dance troupe that will be performing on Veterans’ Day or photographs that were taken at last year’s event.”

This Sunday’s event will start at 11am when Canon Frances Ward takes the Drumhead service. The Wharfedale 1224 cadet band will play between 12.15pm and 12.45pm. From 1.15pm to 4.30pm, there will be an open-air tea dance with 1940s-style entertainment provided by the Jiving Lindy Hoppers and the Swing Shifters.

There will also be a Veterans’ Village marquee with hot meals.