Security guards are being permanently retained in city centre car parks in a blitz on thieves.

Bradford Council says crime has dropped dramatically since the private guards were brought to patrol the car parks.

They were introduced into Vicar Lane and Westgate car parks last Christmas when the Telegraph & Argus named and shamed city centre car crime trouble spots.

The council said then that the £3,000 scheme was temporary and had been started to reassure shoppers.

But today Bradford Council's executive committee member for the environment Councillor Anne Hawkesworth said they were keeping two of the three guards permanently because crime was plummeting.

The council has also put in a new barrier and closed circuit television system at Westgate car park.

The move was welcomed by chairman of Bradford Retail Action Group Jeff Frankel as a boost for the city centre.

He said: "It is the right decision. I'm pleased the council has got it right. Stealing has been virtually negligible since they were brought in. The proof of the pudding is in the eating."

Between April and December last year 720 vehicles were stolen or broken into in Bradford central police division, which includes the city centre. Vicar Lane and Westgate were the worst.

During July this year there were only seven reports of damage on the city car parks and two cars were stolen.

Since Vicar Lane car park shut last month to make way for a multi-million leisure development, the guards have been redeployed to other sites, including the new Thornton Road temporary car park, where drivers leave their vehicles to use a shuttle bus service.

Coun Hawkesworth said: "This is good news. It is unlikely that we shall be able to stop all car related crime in the city centre. But we will continue to do all we can to make it harder for people to steal or vandalise vehicles".

l Motorists who were moved off Vicar Lane face about a year using the site in Thornton Road or looking for parking places elsewhere. They will be able to return when the developers, J J Gallagher, have completed a 1,000 place multi-storey car park.