Wiltshire police are looking for new recruits but Government proposals could slash its budget by £3m.

The figure is the equivalent of losing up to 100 police officers within the county but support staff and police property could also be affected.

Chief Constable Elizabeth Neville fears that the proposals could have implications for the fight against crime in the county.

Rural areas would stand to be hit hardest in the budget cut if it went ahead.

The Government is currently revising its central police fund budget formula, the method used by the Home Office to determine the size of grants and where they will go.

The Home Office claims the aim is to distribute funds fairly and appropriately.

But the Wiltshire Chief Constable, who also chairs the Association of Chief Police Officers for the South West Region, said: "I and other chiefs in the South West of England are formally responding to the Government proposals.

"We are pointing out the very real fears we have in our ability to maintain the services we provide to our more rural communities.

"We hope that more realistic proposals will be adopted so that we can maintain and improve the policing service we provide."

Miss Neville said that a budget reduction of such enormity would have a considerable impact on the county's police force. She added: "It is vital for the people of this county and across the South West of England that the Govern-ment seriously considers the real implications for policing that these proposals would have."

A spokesman for the Home Office said that the 12-week consultation would ensure the police grant formula represented the most up-to-date and modern service.

He said: " No decisions will be made until after September 30 when all police responses have been heard and taken into account.

"The consultation will not make any winners or losers but will provide a better police service nationwide.

"The formula is a complicated system which analyses police activity.

"It will provide a simpler, more stable basis by which the police grants are allocated."

The current formula was established in 1995.

Meanwhile, the Wiltshire force is planning a series of recruiting evenings, giving people an insight into the work of the regular police and special constabulary.

Swindon's will be at the Broadgreen Centre in Broad Street on Tuesday, October 1 from 7-9pm.