Haworth residents who campaigned to keep their village bobby say they are already seeing an increase in crime.

Villagers claim that since the departure of PC Glyn Butterworth two months ago they have noticed a rise in vandalism and attempted burglaries.

And they are enlisting the help of Bradford councillors in a bid to get their community constable back.

Parish councillor Cliff Simmonds took Bradford council's executive member for the economy, Councillor Simon Cooke, and Worth Valley Conservative councillor Glen Miller to see several examples of vandalism in the village.

These included a badly vandalised phone box outside Haworth Railway Station and a smashed shop window in Mill Hey.

Cllr Simmonds says: "The loss of a community constable has had a big impact on a lot of people and many are extremely worried about crime in Haworth increasing.

"Without a police presence in the village those responsible know they are unlikely to be caught.

"As time goes on I expect to see more instances of this and unless a regular police presence is restored it will only get worse."

Cllr Miller says: "Over the last couple of weeks I have had calls from constituents who have either been burgled or suffered an attempted burglary.

"On top of that, I have seen for myself a number of instances of petty vandalism, not just in Haworth, but throughout most of the Worth Valley.

"There seems to be a clear link between the removal of the community constable and an increase in the fear of crime."

Cllr Cooke adds: "It is bitterly ironic that West Yorkshire Police has announced an extra 40 officers on frontline duties, when residents in Haworth are having to campaign for the return of one frontline constable who has served the village so well previously.

"I can assure residents that I will assist in any way I can, and to begin with I will be raising the matter with the Bradford members on the West Yorkshire Police Authority."

No comment was available from the police as we went to press.