Frontline policing will be maintained in Devizes, despite big budget cuts, town councillors were told on Tuesday night.

Inspector Andy Noble, commander of the district that covers the town, told the community committee: “Although we cannot say for definite what will happen, it is more likely that the backroom functions will suffer rather than the officers dealing with our main business of keeping Devizes safe.

“But we will have to prioritise. We cannot turn out to every road traffic collision.”

Wiltshire police are looking to save £17million from a £104million budget.

Councillors expressed frustration at some cyclists who ride on pavements, along pedestrian areas and the wrong way up one-way streets.

Inspector Noble said: “Our officers will continue to deal with these incidents as they find them, but we cannot focus on them.

“Our focus has been and always must be on domestic violence, household burglary and anti-social behaviour.”

He said there had been an 18 per cent drop in crime in the Devizes area over the last 12 months and the detection rate had risen from 27 to 29 per cent.