More than 4,000 people have signed a petition to stop Bradford's street warden service being dismantled.

The axe has dangled over the city centre wardens since March when Bradford Council's ruling Conservative group cut their £350,000 funding from the 2007/8 budget.

Amid mounting pressure, the Council later back-peddled and gave the wardens a one-year reprieve to allow a comprehensive review of Bradford's uniformed services to be carried out.

But traders and shoppers, fearing the wardens would still be axed at the end of the review, started a petition to campaign for them to be retained permanently.

The document attracted 1,000 signatures in just two days and that number has now soared to nearly 4,000, it was revealed today.

The protesters, who say the wardens have been a crime-fighting asset since their introduction in 2002, had hoped to present the petition to councillors this week at the Full Council meeting but - much to their annoyance - were told they would have to wait another month.

Head petitioner Kate Linford, manager of Wharf jewellers in Ivegate, said: "We were originally told the May meeting was the one where we could hand over our petition, but then they told us they wouldn't see us because it was the AGM. It's very annoying and disappointing.

"I was shocked when I found out we were going to have to wait until the end of June to present it."

She said the number of people who had signed the petition was "stunning" and added that it demonstrated overwhelming support for the street wardens.

A Council spokesman said: "Despite the importance of the petition, it would not be appropriate to consider it at Full Council because it is not an ordinary meeting, but the Annual Council Meeting.

"It is primarily a civic occasion to elect the new Lord Mayor and to review the Constitution of the Council. Petitions are excluded, as are other items such as questions and motions.

"However, it can be considered at the next meeting on June 26."

A multi-agency meeting is being planned at city hall next month where the upcoming review of uniformed services across Bradford will be discussed.

Terry Patton, of the GMB Union, said: "The meeting will be to discuss the uniformed services all across the board in Bradford. I expect things to be a lot clearer after that.

"We will continue to fight for the street wardens."

Patrick Kerry, from Bradford Unison, said: "We understand they still haven't identified where the money is coming from if the funding for the wardens is to continue. We understand the proposal to get rid of the wardens will still go ahead.

"Now the election is out of the way, this will resurface later this year.

"The 4,000 signature petition shows that the street wardens perform a vital role in keeping crime down in the city centre. The shoppers, traders and our members have told us they would fear for their personal safety in Bradford city centre if the wardens are removed."

Sue Maloney, city centre wardens supervisor, said: "The petition is testament to the hard work and efforts the wardens put in to assist businesses and people around the city centre. We are really pleased that people are supporting us."

She said she had heard the review was due to get underway in four weeks, but the council said a date had not yet been set.

Ian Greenwood, leader of the Council's Labour group, said: "We support the people that signed the petition and we will be looking to see that their views are considered and not just steam rollered over.

"We are told they are doing a review, but what do you need to review about a street warden? This is just a way of throwing it into the long grass. My guess is that they (the ruling Conservative group) will hope to win next year's election and, if they do, the street wardens will be gone within a week."