POLICING minster Mike Penning has agreed to meet Lancashire MPs to discuss the county constabulary’s cash crisis.

Rossendale and Darwen Tory MP Jake Berry secured the promise in the House of Commons during Home Office Questions on Monday.

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The exchange took place as Lancashire police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw and county chief constable Steve Finnigan warned another proposed round of £87 million in government grant cuts could turn the force into a ‘999 only’ service by 2020.

Also on Monday, Lancashire County Council’s Labour leader Jenny Mein predicted further Whitehall financial reductions which could reduce its service to residents to the bare legal minimum by 2017/2018.

This would be mainly ‘critical’ adult social care for the elderly and vulnerable, children’s services, and waste disposal and could see streetlights going out at night and libraries cut back.

Deborah Kirkup, of Age UK Lancashire, said: “We are very concerned about possible cuts in front-line services to these who need them.”

Mr Berry and his Pendle Tory colleague Andrew Stephenson accused Mr Grunshaw and Cllr Mein of ‘scaremongering’ in advance of any final government financial settlement.

Hyndburn Labour MP Graham Jones accused the government of putting the residents of East Lancashire at risk because of its relentless cuts in Whitehall cash grants to the county council and the police force. Mr Berry told Mr Penning of ‘increasing concern among Lancashire MPs of all parties’ about funding for the police force before the minister promised to welcome a delegation.

Mr Jones said: “This is a government that is committed to cuts that will hit places like East Lancashire hardest.

“Tory ministers just don’t care if neighbourhood policing and major crime squad is scrapped. I am very concerned about these dangerous cuts to both the county council and the police, which will hit the vulnerable hardest.

“This Tory government is to blame as it makes the financial decisions.”

Mr Berry said: “I am afraid there is a lot of scaremongering going on well before final figures are announced.

“I have secured a cross-meeting with Mr Penning to discuss future funding for Lancashire police.

“I am happy to organise a similar meeting with MPs from all parties with ministers about county council finances.”

Mr Stephenson said: “I will fight to make sure Lancashire gets a fair deal from government.

“Unfortunately there is a lot of scaremongering going on for political ends from Labour politicians.

“Nobody yet knows what the final decisions on police and local government funding will be.”