Celebrities, film and screen experts, and members of the business community are rallying behind the Telegraph & Argus campaign to save Bradford’s National Media Museum.

Last night, Steve Abbott, the chairman of Bradford’s UNESCO City of Film, said the museum’s closure would be “shattering” to him and a “devastating blow” to the city as he signed the T&A’s online petition.

“I fully support the fight to retain it,” he said. “What put us forward for City of Film was the National Media Museum and I am very proud to be chair of City of Film in every sense.

“It would be a shocking blow in terms of our reputation nationally and internationally.”

Former Emmerdale actor Duncan Preston, now starring in new prime time ITV comedy drama Love and Marriage, called the potential closure “an absolute disgrace”.

The former Bradford Grammar School pupil, well known for roles in sitcom Surgical Spirit and Victoria Wood comedies, including Acorn Antiques and dinnerladies, said: “Obviously I wouldn’t want it to happen.

“Bradford is close to my heart and the museum is one of its jewels. there aren’t many and that is one of them.

“It is absolutely a catastrophe and where is it all going to end.

“There is big trouble if they start cutting any more and it is not on. It would just be an enormous loss. The whole of Bradford is being razed to the ground.

“There is nothing being built and there will be nothing left of Bradford.”

Tony Wright, of rock band Terrorvision, said that the museum had some fantastic exhibits,.

“Closing it is not a good idea,” he said. “It has the Harryhausen exhibition and people come to Bradford to visit it. People ask me what they should do when they get here and I tell them to head to the media museum.”

Screen Yorkshire said that the museum had played a very significant role in media in the UK.

Sally Joynson, the chief executive of Screen Yorkshire, said: “Let us not forget that the UK media industry is one of the most successful in the world. It plays a very significant role in the cultural life of the region although the economic environment is very tough.

“I think to close it would be a major blow not only to the city but to the film and media and culture offer to visitors.

“I find it extraordinary that these conversations are going on.”

Michele Sutton, principal and chief executive of Bradford College, said that the College was a business partner of the National Media Museum and principal sponsor of its Bradford Animation Festival until 2015.

She said: “The college is also a sponsor of the Bradford Fellowship in Photography along with Bradford University and the museum itself.

“We fully support the museum given the integral role it plays in Bradford, particularly its hugely important contribution to the city’s arts and cultural offering.

“Not only that, the museum is invaluable to our students, many of whom use its facilities and expertise as part of their learning. Photography, art and design and media students are among those who have benefited enormously from our partnership with the museum.

“The College would be dismayed to see any detrimental cuts to the Science Museum Group’s museums in the North, but obviously, especially to the National Media Museum which is a real asset to Bradford and the country and, as such, Bradford College is behind every effort to secure its long-term future.”

Bradford Breakthrough – the advocacy group representing 29 leading organisations in the city – has expressed concern about the possible closure of the museum and will be discussing the issue as a matter of urgency at its next meeting.

The Chairman of Bradford Breakthrough, Dr. Trevor Higgins, said: “Bradford Breakthrough will be discussing the future of the National Media Museum as a matter of great urgency and importance. We appreciate that the financial challenges facing the Science Museum Group are considerable and that it will have to make difficult decisions.

“However, Bradford Breakthrough very much hopes that a solution can be found by the museum, the Council and Government to ensure that this vital national asset remains in Bradford as it is so important for the city’s economy and its educational and cultural offer.”