Bradford's traditional traffic wardens could disappear from the streets in a major review of their role.

Wardens across West Yorkshire are receiving letters inviting them to apply for jobs as Police Community Support Officers, the Telegraph & Argus can reveal today.

But police chiefs have made it clear that no one is being compelled to change jobs.

The 70 PCSOs brought in to assist the police with the help of Government funding have powers to deal with parking as part of their wide-ranging duties.

They are on the same basic pay as the traffic wardens of just under £14,500 a year.

But a staff source said today the letter had fuelled uncertainty about the future of the traditional service where many of the 100 wardens are over 40 and do not work the unsociable shifts covered by the younger PCSOs.

He added: "There is a firm belief the role of traditional traffic wardens will be gone within the next two to five years or sooner."

Bradford Council has also commissioned a study on taking over enforcement powers. The proceeds of fines could be used for traffic improvements.

Chief Superintendent Grah-ame Bullock, of West Yorkshire police, said the review was taking place of roles where the functions of police officers were being duplicated.

He said: "This includes the roles of wardens employed by local authorities, traffic wardens employed by the police, special constables and Volunteers in Policing. This constitutes a significant body of people whose roles could free up a police officer's time towards tackling more serious offences."

But David Brown, branch secretary of the West Yorkshire Police Unison branch, said: "The morale of traffic wardens has suffered as a result of lack of regard and the uncertainty surrounding their future.

"Decriminalisation of yellow lines, the threat of being transferred to councils and giving traffic wardens powers to the PCSOs are good examples of how the service is being undermined.

"The use of unpaid volunteers such as special constables and Volunteers in Policing are attacks on traffic wardens and professional policing in general.

"No one would argue with freeing up police officers to deal with serious offences. But in West Yorkshire it's all about policing on the cheap.

"That is no comfort to those such as traffic wardens who do a vital but under-valued job."