Bradford could double its Police Community Support Officers if funding can be found.

Government money is available to increase the number of PCSOs patrolling the streets of West Yorkshire - but only if West Yorkshire Police Authority can fund a quarter of the cost.

Under the Government plan the PCSO salary costs are paid in the first year. The amount paid by the Government then drops to three-quarters of the salary bill permanently.

Councillor Mark Burns-Williamson, chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Authority, said: "We don't have exact numbers yet but if funding can be identified the number of PCSOs in Bradford could almost double.

"We are looking to find approximately £17 million of additional funding across West Yorkshire."

The possibility of raising the money through council tax has been ruled out so forces will have to look elsewhere for funding to avoid missing out.

"We are looking at ways of funding the positions, for example reducing the number of traffic warden vacancies because PCSOs can fulfil that role. We have also looked at using some money from our capital receipts and by reducing agency budgets," said Mr Burns-Williamson, pictured. The force pays for accommodation and supervision from the time the PCSOs are recruited and pay for a quarter of the pay bill after the first year.

Some police authorities have funded PCSOs through local councils but Bradford Council decided that its chief executive would write to the Home Secretary pointing out the inconsistency of the funding policy and the impact it would have on community policing. "We are hoping that Bradford Council can assist us in helping to find the funding but we understand that they also have constraints imposed by a budget," said Coun Burns-Williamson.

Bradford South division has 64 PCSOs, Bradford North has 37, Keighley has 38 of which three are deployed in Ilkley.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "PCSOs are funded in various ways in Bradford."

In Little Horton, a team of four PCSOs has been paid for by Trident, a community regeneration scheme.

Coun Burns-Williamson said the opportunity to dramatically increase the numbers was too good to miss. "We are doing our best to get the funding," he said. "In essence we would be getting four PCSOs for the price of one."

Talking about the effectiveness of PCSOs, Mr Burns-Williamson said: "PCSOs now provide at least one third of the work force on neighbourhood teams and they are doing a good job."