The petition was started in February this year by Brian Taylor, postmaster of Goathland Post Office, after ITV bosses announced the 1960s police drama was being mothballed.

Signatures have flooded in via the internet, but an incredible 60,000 signatures have been made in person at the post office and at Whitby's Grapevine cafe on a spin-off petition run by owners Mark and Tracy Witherington.

News of the petition reaching the 100,000 milestone comes as Heartbeat star David Lonsdale talked of his sadness after watching workmen at the Leeds-based studio – where many of the scenes were filmed – destroy sets from the show.

The Whitby Gazette reported earlier this year how the set would be destroyed in an interview with Heartbeat's line producer Mary Owens who said the show is not coming back, despite ITV chiefs saying filming had only been suspended indefinitely because it had enough episodes stockpiled.

David (46) who spent 13 years playing village idiot David Stockwell in the ITV police drama said it had been "gut-wrenching" to see. He owns a cottage close to the studios and discovered what was happening when he called in to see some friends and spotted workmen throwing all the sets – including his TV home – into skips.

He told the Sunday Express: "I know they were only pieces of scenery but it was heartbreaking to see the sets just smashed up. It was like seeing your home violated. It was a very sad day.

"It was really tough to see David's kitchen and other sets being dispatched down a rubbish chute." Mr Taylor said David's comments had sealed the show's fate for him.

He said: "David is dead right. From the beginning ITV said it's going to be on for another two years, that's wrong. There are nine episodes left to show and that's it, it's gone. I don't think it will come back in the way it was because all the actors have gone."

Mr Taylor added they intend to hand over the petition to ITV's newly appointed chairman, Archie Norman in the next few weeks and he has vowed to tell him exactly what he thinks of the channel's programming.

"It's an insult to the viewer," he said. "It's rumoured Katie Price is getting £450,000 for appearing on I'm A Celebrity – that money could be better spent on drama.

"We thought if we got 50,000 signatures we'd have done extremely well but to get 100,000 is way beyond our expectations. The show is so popular it just shows what public opinion is."

The nine remaining episodes of Heartbeat are due to be screened next year, most likely in the spring.

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