Wardens will be drafted into Keighley town centre after the successful launch of the system in Bradford.

The first wardens, who started work in Bradford city centre three weeks ago, have already made their mark and dealt with scores of incidents.

They include: helping the police when a man mutilated himself in Centenary Square; referring drugs cases to the police; giving advice to traders about health hazards through rubbish problems; and re-uniting with his family a man recovering from a serious road accident after he became lost in the city centre.

They also found a handbag containing £500 last weekend and passed it on to the police.

Now Bradford Council wants to recruit six wardens and a supervisor for Keighley and a further seven to join the five already operating in the city centre.

The new Bradford wardens will cover the Little Horton and University end of the city.

They will be employed by the Council and based with the police.

Yvonne Crossley, manager of the city centre scheme, will also be in charge at Keighley.

Recruits, who will get training, are expected to make the city and town centres safer and attractive and act as ambassadors. The existing wardens earn about £12,000 a year, while the pay for supervisors is around £16,000.

The scheme, which is the first of its type in Britain, is being paid for by Bradford's allocation from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

Councillor Andrew Mallinson (Con, Keighley South), chairman of the town centre management group, said: "I am delighted. It will heighten people's perception of security and I am sure shoppers will enjoy the sight of them round the town centre."

David Petyt, spokesman for Keighley's re-launched Chamber of Trade and a town councillor, said: "Anything which helps the environment and keeps the streets safer is to be welcomed."

Deputy Council leader Councillor Simon Cooke said: "It is good news and I am pleased we have been able to do it. We realise there are the same concerns in Keighley as Bradford."

Posters in the city centre inviting people who are interested in becoming wardens to get in touch "star" the existing staff who are featured on them.

Would-be wardens are invited to ring (01274) 431378 Monday to Thursday between 10am and 2pm before January 20.