A BID to stop the reorganisation of Ealing's park ranger service, branded "kneejerk costcutting" by campaigners, has failed.

Last night, Ealing Council's scrutiny committee supported a decision to alter the service, reducing the number of ranger bases from four to two, in Acton and Southall.

More than 550 Hanwell residents, including MPs Virendra Sharma and Steve Pound, had signed a petition calling the for plans to be scrapped.

Residents argue that decreasing the number of bases would limit ranger presence in borough's 60 parks, leading to an increase in crime, and a drop in the quality of the green spaces.

However, councillors on the committee, which is dominated by the Conservatives, voted seven to five against asking the cabinet to rethink its plans.