Wardens will soon be patrolling city centre streets to ensure they are clean, friendly and trouble-free.

The ten workers about to be recruited by Bradford Council will be told their remit is to be "people's people" and the aim is to provide a safe, clean city which people can enjoy. The Government-funded £450,000 project is also seen as a major boost to Bradford's bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2008.

The wardens will have daily briefings from the police but they would have no powers of arrest and would only report incidents to police officers.

Bradford Council's head of service for business partnerships, Mike Cowlam, said the wardens would also take the role of ambassadors and direct people to tourist attractions like the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television and shopping centres.

But they would also bring in agencies including cleansing and the graffiti units, to keep the city's streets clean. The pioneering project will run for two years and has being paid for by the Home Office and the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

Mr Cowlam said salaries and hours were still being discussed but they hoped for both men and women, and ethnic minority applicants.

He added that the uniformed officers would probably initially get two-year contracts but the Council hoped to get funding to continue after the period.

It is hoped eventually to obtain funding for wardens in Keighley. The Home Office has said it is considering extending the scheme to towns as well as cities.

The scheme is part of the Government's £500 million Street Wardens programme.

More than 700 Wardens will be employed across the UK in 100 schemes.

The Bradford project is one of a number in West Yorkshire. The others are in Huddersfield and Dewsbury, Leeds and Halifax and Todmorden.

Superintendent Colin Western, head of operations at Bradford South Police division, said: "We are looking forward to working with the wardens to make the city a safer place for everyone. "

Manager of the Kirkgate centre Catherine Riley said: "If the wardens have a public relations role on the streets it is a very positive thing."