The tram will be extended to the east and west of the city

More than 200,000 leaflets were sent out asking for views on the extensions but under 2% were returned.

Respondents to the public consultation supported the route into Rotherham town centre, but not a new line to Hellaby.

The South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority (SYPTA) said the mixed reaction would be taken into account in the final decision on the plans.

Around 12m passengers used the Sheffield service last year and transport bosses want to build on its success.

Proposals include extending the Supertram from Ranmoor to Rotherham Parkgate, and from Dore to Hellaby.

The latest consultation involved people and businesses closely affected by the planned extensions.

Roy Wickes, Director General of the SYPTA, said: "I admit that for the routes out to Ranmoor and the routes to Hellaby the results were mixed.

"Those are the sorts of things that we need to feed in, alongside the costs of the scheme and the wider benefits they bring to the districts, to enable the SYPTA and district councils to consider and make a decision in the early summer."

Transport official stills need to work out the finer details of funding for the �400m scheme before the extensions can be built.

Under current government funding guidelines, 25% of the money must be secured locally.