POLICE bosses are having to slash spending by millions to balance the books following the global economic meltdown.

Craig Mackey, Cumbria’s Chief constable, has told a meeting of the Cumbria Police Authority - the force’s decision-making body - that savings of between £2.8 and £3.1 million are required in the next budget, 2009-10.

Council tax payers will have to fill the remainer of the hole in the constabulary’s finances as the authority ponders a tax increase of between 4.9 or 3.9 per cent.

For the full story see next week's edition of The Westmorland Gazette.