Workers across Bradford will find themselves with nowhere to turn for advice on ever-changing employment law when a key agency axes its services to the district.

The Yorkshire and Humberside Low Pay Unit (YHLPU) will withdraw help for people on April 1, after Bradford Council voted to stop funding for its employment rights advice service.

The decision came as the Council struggled to balance its books and cope with massive overspends during this year's budget setting process.

The drastic measure formed part of the joint Conservative/Liberal Democrat budget and members voted to withdraw the annual grant of £34,382, despite objections by Labour and Green Party members. The move means two people will be made redundant when the service stops.

Ian Harknett, director of the Yorkshire and Humberside Low Pay Unit, said: "Quite simply from April there will be no service for the people of Bradford. A lot of local agencies and Citizen Advice Bureaux use our services at the moment and we will have to put a stop to that.

"I am sure the service will be missed and I do not think Council members were aware they were cutting a vital service. They made the decision without talking to officers and without talking to the service itself, which is short-sighted and something we regret very much."

YHLPU's main service is free telephone advice on employment rights for workers and employers, particularly voluntary and community sector employers.

It also produces leaflets on employment law and best practice which at the moment go out to all enquirers and are stocked by more than 50 neighbourhood advice and community centres in the district.

Chris Murdoch, a business adviser at Keighley Local Enterprise Agency, who has used the service for six years, said she would sorely miss the service.

"The loss of the service is going to leave a real gap for the small business community."

Leader of Bradford Council, Councillor Margaret Eaton, said: "During the budget process we looked carefully at many of the organisations that the Council pays subscriptions to. Our main priority is to pay for front line services and we do not feel that there is the necessity any more for this service that there once was."