Councillors are calling on police chiefs to get a community officer back on the beat after receiving scores of complaints from residents.

PC Michael Fawbert, the community beat officer for Bierley and East Bowling, has been assigned to other duties, leaving the area without a designated officer.

Councillor Rupert Oliver (Lib Dem, Bowling) said he was very concerned about the situation and had complained to police chiefs.

"East Bowling, given its location and population, which includes a high number of senior citizens, has all the issues related to an inner city area," he said.

"PC Fawbert's departure is now the subject of widespread discussion in East Bowling and is causing concern and the feeling that once again East Bowling is overlooked and under-policed."

When PC Fawbert started work in East Bowling in May last year he hoped to solve ongoing issues such as nuisance teenagers.

Police chiefs said at the time that they had put a community beat officer into the area as part of a strategy to deal with anti-social behaviour and crime in Bierley and East Bowling.

Councillor Tony Niland (Lab, Bowling ) said that his mother lived in East Bowling and he was appalled by the lack of police presence.

He said: "People are getting really worried about this, especially the elderly. We have been told on numerous occasions that people want a police presence back in the area.

"We will be giving out panic alarms at the Neighbourhood Forum, which we have re-arranged for January. But in the meantime, it has to be said I am not happy with the levels of policing in this area and we will be looking at ways forward."

Inspector John McGill, of Bradford South police, said the force was trying to recruit new community beat officers.

"Our community policing strategy is constantly being reviewed to make sure we are targeting priority areas. East Bowling is certainly not losing any policing in any way," he said.

"We have a number of very successful initiatives ongoing in the East Bowling area where officers dedicate time to patrolling the area and meeting members of the community. "

He said police would be working in the community this month to highlight issues such as crime prevention.