Politicians are backing the growing clamour for TV's Casualty to stay in Bristol.

Yesterday the Bristol Evening Post revealed that the city council has been holding talks with BBC director-general Mark Thompson.

Now Conservative group leader Councillor Richard Eddy has launched an epetition on the council's website, calling for plans to move production of the hugely popular hospital soap to Cardiff to be scrapped.

The show has been filmed in the city since 1986 and pumps £10 million a year into the local economy.

BBC executives said the series would need new accommodation in the near future.

They said a move to the Welsh capital would help the corporation "to meet its commitment to building a creatively and economically sustainable centre of excellence for drama in Wales."

Councillor Eddy (Bishopsworth) said: "From the beginning, Casualty has been closely associated with Bristol and everyone looks out for the city's most famous landmarks.

"Its loss would represent a serious setback and reduction in status of BBC South West as a premier regional broadcaster.

"At a time when commercial rivals are threatening to axe jobs and services in the West country, it is vital that the BBC honours its remit as a truly national public broadcaster.

"To this end, it is vital that the organisation retains the capacity to produce not only factual programming in Bristol, like the world-renowned Natural History Unit, but also the ability to make high-quality drama."

A group has also been set up on Facebook to keep Casualty in Bristol.