Thousands of people are backing a battle to save village playing fields from development.

More than 4,200 people have so far signed a petition supporting Bradford Council's new draft Unitary Development Plan (UDP), which earmarks Baildon's Jenny Lane site as recreational space, and backing the Jenny Lane Action Group's second bid to have it declared a village green.

Originally designated green belt, the site was earmarked for housing in Bradford's current UDP following representations from its owner, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds, and a public inquiry

It prompted a massive protest campaign, which included a failed bid to have the fields made a village green to protect them from development.

But earlier this year the Council revealed it was proposing to earmark the site as recreational space in its new draft UDP - the planning blueprint which will guide development in the district over the next decade.

Action group members welcomed the news and distributed thousands of leaflets to villagers urging them to support the Council's draft allocation to ensure it is not overturned.

The diocese has told the Telegraph & Argus it will object to the proposed designation.

Secretary Julia Donaghue said: "The response has been absolutely fantastic and the level of support just shows the strength of feeling that there is about this in Baildon.''

Mrs Donaghue added that as any designation could be changed under a future UDP, the protesters were aiming to give the site permanent protection. She said making it made a village green would ensure this.

Campaigners claim that developing the fields, which have been used by generations of villagers, would result in the loss of the only open space in the middle of Baildon and would increase traffic.

Their petition is due to be presented to Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the Council's executive member for the environment, at City Hall by action group chairman Mike Craine on August 8 - the day before the public consultation period on the draft UDP ends.

Councillor Hawkesworth said: "I'll be only too happy to receive the petition."

A Council spokesman said the village green application would "be determined in due course''.