Campaigners battling to save a youth worker's job have won him an 11th hour reprieve.

Michael Pascal, best known locally by his nickname Muppet, was set to give up his job working with youngsters on the Ravenscliffe estate at the end of December.

But ward councillors and community groups have teamed up to secure a grant from the Newlands Single Regeneration Budget fund to keep Mr Pascal and administration worker Carol Hamilton employed until March.

Bradford Council had refused a £27,000 grant application by the Ravenscliffe Community Development Project to pay for Mr Pascal and Mrs Hamilton for another year.

Sue Ward, chairman of the Ravenscliffe Community Association, warned the job losses could have a devastating effects on the redevelopment of the estate.

RCDP members also collected a 200-signature petition of support for Mr Pascal, who has worked on the estate for three years.

The RCDP's chairman John Rawnsley said: "This is very good news for the estate but it is only a temporary reprieve.

"We have to continue the search for funding for the start of the new financial year in April.

"Muppet will work for the RCDP as a youth worker but also for the Newlands partnership on the Greengates estate as well.

"We still need to find the cash for the rest of the year."

Councillor Susanne Rooney (Lab, Eccleshill) said she wrote to Jez Lester, the director at Newlands SRB, asking for his help.

She said: "The community felt it really important that Muppet stayed. Therefore, as a community councillor, I wanted to do everything I could to save Muppet's job.

"Jez Lester and myself put this package together helped by Councillor Bob Sowman, who is chairman of the Newlands SRB. I'd just like to thank everyone who helped save Muppet's job.

"It's another way of showing that the community, working together with local councillors and other groups in partnership, can successfully deliver for the benefit of the whole community."

Councillors Peter Lancaster (Lab, Eccleshill) and Michael Attenborough (Lib Dem, Eccleshill) also supported to the campaign.

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