Hundreds of people pledged their support for the National Media Museum at a rally in Bradford today.

Crowds gathered outside the iconic building to listen to impassioned speeches from local MPs Gerry Sutcliffe and George Galloway, and Bradford Council leader Councillor David Green.

They drew applause and cheers from their audience as they spoke of the museum as Bradford’s “heart and soul” and insisted they would not back down in their fight to save it from closure.

The media museum, alongside Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry and the National Rail Museum in York, is under threat of closure under government cuts.

More than 200 people gathered outside the media museum at noon - many waving placards and banners in support of the museum - to show what the venue means to them and to Bradford.

The Telegraph & Argus ran a stall where people could sign the newspaper’s petition.

Gerry Sutcliffe addressed the crowd first, describing the media museum as the “heart and soul of Bradford” and a “wonderful jewel” in the city centre.

He passed the microphone to Mr Galloway, who passionately talked about the importance of the museum to Bradford and invited people to experience the venue after the speeches.

He said: “It would be an act of cultural vandalism to close this museum.

“We are not asking for charity when we ask the Government to save this museum. Bradford needs this museum at its heart.

“Bradford is in very serious economic difficulty. Closing the museum would cut the number of visitors coming to Bradford from outside massively. It would be a further body blow which Bradford cannot be afforded.”

Mr Galloway also poured scorn on the museum’s leadership, saying if the museums are not up to the mark then it was their responsibility.

“If they will not stand up and fight for their museum, then off you go because we will stand up and fight for your museums.”

Coun Green, who had spent the morning in East Bowling spreading the message about the museum’s plight, said: “People were coming out asking to sign the petition and asking to support the museum - we weren’t having to knock on many doors. People are 100 per cent behind this campaign.”

He continued: “There are some people out there who are trying to play Bradford, York and Manchester off against each other. But all the councils’ position and that of the cities’ people is clear - we are saying none of them should close.

“These museums are central to the cities, the regions and the economies - we are going to fight to save all three of them.

“The media museum has links to our schools, the university, colleges and businesses. We need to fight for all of them.

“For those of you who know people who couldn’t be here today, or are yet to sign the petition or write to MPs, I urge you to get them to do it.”

Lee Golden, 41, of Thorpe Edge, was at the rally and signed the petition. He said: “Bradford as a whole has been in decline for ten to 15 years. If the museum closed down it would be another derelict building for the city.

“City Park cost £24million, but if the museum shut down, all we would have here would be a puddle. We’ve got to have more than a puddle.”

John and Jill Senior came from Sheffield for the rally with their two children Connor, 15, and Michael, 13.

The couple, who used to go to Bradford College, said: “We spent a lot of time in here when we were at the college. It is in our hearts.”

Laura Sheard, 31, of Saltaire, said she visited the museum once a month. She added: “I cannot believe they are thinking about shutting the museum. It is a world-class museum.

“If they shut this museum it will rock the heart of Bradford - a lot of trade in Bradford comes through people visiting the museum and then using the shops.”

Khalid Naseem, 45, of Heaton, attended the rally with his sons Esa, 12, and Ibrahim, ten. He said: “The museum is an integral part of culture in Bradford.

“I have been in Bradford for 15 years and it has always been here. We use it a lot - it is part of Bradford.

“It’s an absolute disgrace that they want to close it.”

Mags Pearson, 45, of Bradford, brought her son Rohan, 11, and daughter Lilian, eight, along. She said: “I am absolutely outraged they are talking about closing this fantastic museum. The impact on the city centre will be horrific.

“I have been visiting the museum for years and years - it is unique.”