Campaigning action is gaining momentum after an illustrator joined forces with The Telegraph & Argus petition to save the museum.

Tom Woolley, 31, of Great Horton, a former employee at the museum, set up an online petition last Wednesday on the 38 Degrees campaigning website and in 48 hours he received just under 15,000 signatures. Combining forces with the T&A petition will mean a total of nearly 17,000 signatures in a matter of days.

He said: “I love the museum and visit it all the time. It’s is one of the main reasons I chose to come to Bradford when I was a student.

“Its closure would have truly tragic consequences for the cultural, economic and tourism offer of the city and the region.

“This loss will be a devastating blow to Bradford and a tragic outcome on an international scale.”

Mr Woolley, a freelance illustrator, studied at Bradford University when he was 18 years old.

To fund himself through university he got a job at the museum initially working in the box office.

After graduating he got a job as a web designer and has worked on major events including Bradford Animation Festival and the International Film Festival.

Mr Woolley. who worked at the museum for 11 years, said: “The National Media Museum is a unique, world-class visitor destination and constantly delivers a range of inspiring events, exhibitions and galleries in one of the poorest cities in the UK.”

Visit the T&A website at telegraphandargus.co.uk.