Four hard-working cleansing workers face the sack - because they are too slow.

Gentle giants Rusty, Norman, William and Henry, believed to be the first horses in Britain to win a Council litter-picking contract, won the £35,000 deal to help clean up the city centre last year.

But the Telegraph & Argus can reveal today that a confidential report says the heavy workhorses from Bradford Industrial Museum are too slow compared to other methods.

Their performance cannot compare with human colleagues using the latest equipment.

The four-legged attractions, two Shires and a pair of Clydesdales, are supposed to earn their hay by winning contracts like forestry work.

But the award of the plum city-centre contract meant the team could stay close to home and high travel costs were unnecessary.

But now the report is expected to point out that the costs could be cut by more conventional methods.

Cleansing officials admit the four work hard but say they are also delayed by their many fans who pat them and offer them treats as they go round the streets.

Today leisure committee chairman Councillor Barry Thorne appealed to sponsors to help the horses keep their job.

He said: "If they are sacked they will have to find contracts elsewhere. Everyone loves them and we would never want to see them end up in a tin.

"They are the thing which makes Bradford city centre different from other towns and cities and we're sure people will want to keep them."

The horses are stabled at the Industrial Museum and spend six days a week working the city centre, accompanied by Council employees who load their wagons with plastic bags filled with rubbish. The day ends with the refuse being taken to the Harris Street depot.

But it is understood the horses, which cost at least £3,500 a year each to keep, come under scrutiny in a report on the cleansing services.

Councillor Jim O'Neill, chairman of the housing and environment committee, which covers cleansing, confirmed a report was prepared for him about services but could not comment further. But Coun Thorne said the contract was due to run until August. He said: "I admit they are costing a lot of money to carry out the contract, but there are no admission charges for the Industrial Museum so they have to work to earn their keep."

Past president of Bradford Chamber of Trade, Mary Frame, said: "They are very appealing indeed and I would like them to continue with some role in the city centre.

"But cleanliness of the city centre is paramount, and it isn't at present. We must have a professional approach. When you go to other cities they appear to be much cleaner than Bradford."

Chairman of Bradford Retail Action Group, Jeff Frankell, said: "I think they are a marvellous attraction.

"Kids are always coming up and stroking them. If it is economically possible to use them, I would hope we would carry on doing it."

Bradford's Kirkgate Centre sponsor the carts for the horses and have just secured another six-month sponsorship deal.

Centre manager Catherine Riley said: "I would be very disappointed not to see the horses cleaning the streets of Bradford and so would the general public.

"They are an environmentally friendly way of dealing with refuse in the city centre and we would be sad to see them go."

What do you think? Should Bradford keep its workhorses? Write to the T&A, addressing your letter: Horses, News Desk, Hall Ings, Bradford, BD1 1JR. Or telephone the Newsdesk on 01274 729511. You can also email us.

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