Closing Keighley's police station would lead to a deterioration in service and undo years of work.

The warning was issued by a senior representative of rank-and-file officers.

Nick Smart, chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Federation, said it would be "desperately sad and deeply concerning" if the police station in Royd Ings Avenue was to shut.

And he said response times to incidents in the town would inevitably be affected.

"Unfortunately it's not just Keighley police station which is in danger – various sites throughout West Yorkshire are being looked at," said Mr Smart.

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"Communities become distant from the police if people don't have that station where they can pop in to see someone. We believe face-to-face contact with the public is essential.

"Local officers want to keep their local stations, which are the heart and soul of our policing.

"We realise that savings have to be made, but shutting police stations will undo years of good work."

He added that irrespective of whatever assurances may be given by force chiefs, levels of service would be hit.

"If you close a community's police station the reality is you cannot maintain the same delivery and quality of service," said Mr Smart.

"It would have an impact and people are likely to see response times extended."

A major campaign has started in the town to save the police station.

Community leaders and senior politicians, including Keighley parliamentary candidates Kris Hopkins (Con) and John Grogan (Lab), have vowed to do everything they can to protect it.

Mr Grogan, who said Keighley faced becoming the largest town in England without its own police station, has started an online petition.

West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson, said the Keighley site – which has already seen the closure of its cells and the relocation of detectives to Bradford – formed part of a wider review.

But he vowed no ruling over its future had been made and a full public consultation would be carried out before any decisions were reached.

Mr Burns-Williamson said: "With £163 million of Government cuts to the policing budget by 2017 substantial savings need to be found.

"For police officers and staff to remain visible on our streets it is important to look at the ongoing costs of police buildings, but also how we can work smarter including with new technology, co-locating together with partners and continuing to provide an improving service to people in Keighley."