TOWN councillors in Marlborough have called for more information before they consider a request to help fund police community support officers.

The request came from the police divisional commander Chief Supt Jerry Wickham in a letter to town clerk Graham Gittins.

He wrote that Home Office grants to pay for CSOs were diminishing and would reach a point where the Wiltshire force had to bear the costs.

Chief Supt Wickham said: "At the present time, and based on the funding arrangements, we cannot commit to providing any increase in the number of CSOs in your respective area.

"This is simply due to the question of funding, since in order to enhance our presence on the streets beyond our current capability needs additional funding, which is unlikely.

"However, should we wish to increase the number of CSOs we may find the only likely way to do this would be to reduce the number of police officers to pay for the CSOs. I hope you will agree this is a route best not followed."

One alternative, said the divisional commander, was to look towards collaboration from bodies like the town council. The matter was referred back to the finance and general purposes committee.