THE number of police officers in Lancashire has reached a record high, it has been revealed.

And there should be more to come as Chief Constable Paul Stephenson seeks to recruit 500 extra officers over the next few years by increases in the police council tax precept.

The first 138 of those should be in place over the next seven months

During the past year, police numbers have swelled by six per cent, to a record 3,579.

David Brindle, the force's director of resources, said: "What is particularly reassuring for the communities of Lancashire is that this significant increase was all in visible frontline policing functions, either response officers, or local beat bobbies.

"The increase is also a tribute to the people of Lancashire who reassured us and the police authority that they were prepared to pay for extra officers through an increase in their council tax.

"We are now seeing the benefits of that, with this extra uniformed presence on our streets, so every

community in Lancashire has a recognisable local beat bobby."

Meanwhile, the force also welcomed Home Secretary David Blunkett's announcement that he is giving police a war chest to recruit more community support officers.

Critics call them 'plastic police officers', but Chief Superintendent Mike Barton said: "The community support officers working in Lancashire have proved very useful in helping their police colleagues to tackle anti-social behaviour.

"We have had good feedback from our communities about the work of our CSOs, who they regard as very much part of their local area and not shackled by high levels of bureaucracy.

"People tell us the presence of the CSOs, accompanying the local beat bobby, is both reassuring and helpful."