A petition launched by a Bradford resident to save his local bus service has now got 1,000 signatures and the backing of a local MP and a district councillor.

Ian Brewer, the Neighbourhood Watch warden for East Bowling, who lives in Bowling Hall Road, set up the petition less than two weeks ago to save the 624 half-hourly service which runs from East to West Bowling.

Labour Councillor David Green, the executive member for regeneration, and Bradford East MP David Ward are both backing Mr Brewer.

The West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority, Metro, is being forced to axe services and reduce the frequency of others to cut £4.5 million from subsidies by 2013.

They launched a public consultation on proposed changes which ends on Friday. Mr Brewer has now handed his petition in.

Mr Brewer, who gave up his car three years ago to use Bradford’s bus service, claims that proposed changes to the route, including cutting out West Bowling and making it an hourly service, would lead to facilities such as East Bowling’s swimming pool closing down.

He said: “Take away a bus service and you take away a community.

“A lot of elderly people and youngsters use this service including pupils at Bradford Academy, who will have to wait an hour if they miss their bus.

“There is anger at the proposed cuts and at Metro for putting profit before people including the elderly, the young and non-car owners.”

Coun Green said that Metro had not fully looked at alternatives to cutting routes.

“My concern is that officers have produced these current proposals but they haven’t looked at other options,” he said.

A Metro spokesman said that they were seeking to make savings in bus services by providing better value for money to taxpayers.

“This means some areas will have a reduced frequency,” he said. “We welcome comments from passengers as part of this process.”