Bradford Council has pledged an urgent review of security at shops in the city following a spate of ram-raids.

Supercigs on John Street was hit for the fourth time in a year when £2,000 of goods were stolen and damage estimated at £10,000 caused to the building after a car was driven into it.

Bosses claim they could be forced to close unless bollards are put up to prevent cars getting across the pavement.

Now Councillor Simon Cooke, executive member for corporate and regeneration, has vowed to look into improving security. "This is a Council property, so it is our responsibility to protect it," he said.

"While we can't put bollards and barriers outside every shop in the city centre we need to look with a degree of urgency at reducing the risk of such incidents in the future for this tenant and other businesses in the area."

Carol Popplewell, area manager for Supercigs who is pictured surveying the mess in the John Street shop, described the news as a "sigh of relief". "We are hoping to stay because other than our problems with the ram raids this is a good little shop and we want to keep it as such," she said.

"I think the Council were concerned that this was going to be another property empty which wouldn't look good."

Customers expressed support for the shop which opened at 1pm yesterday after the glass and mess had been cleared up.

"We have four members of staff, with three full time, and our manager has been here about five years," said Miss Popplewell. "A lot of our regulars are understanding and realise the grief this is causing to the staff."

In a crime survey carried out by Bradford Chamber of Commerce a year ago burglary and attempted burglary were cited as the biggest problem of firms in the city.

Shops including V2 and Bizkit in North Parade and the AN-X store in Upper Millergate are among those which have been targetted.

Mike Cartwright, who represents the chamber of commerce on the Safer Communities Partnership, said businesses needed protection against crime.

"We have to make life as difficult as possible for criminals and prevention is better than cure. The impact it can have on a company can be devastating. Trade disruption, higher insurance, staff morale and image are just a few of the resulting problems. He said more resources should be available for firms who wanted to install closed-circuit television or hold anti-crime training sessions.

Jeff Frankel, of Bradford Retail Action Group, said: "Any talk about reviewing security is good at any time and in any place as long as they do anything - they have not done anything yet."

A police spokesman said they will be pleased to offer advice on ways in which security could be stepped up.