HUSBAND and wife police officers Andrew and Deborah Carter are suing Lancashire Chief Constable Pauline Clare in a test case over pay and housing allowances.

The Burnley couple's cases are among four in Lancashire due to be heard in the next few weeks, which could have far-reaching effects throughout Britain with hundreds of officers also claiming they were recruited with promises of rent allowances and pay that never materialised.

PC Carter, who works in the Padiham area, and his wife claim they left the Army in 1994 because they had ben promised more money in the police.

They were looking forward to a new challenge after being told they would be entitled to a housing allowance or free accommodation together with salaries of £16,000 a year.

Three weeks before they began their new jobs, however, the couple say they were told they would not receive the benefits.

They were also told they would have to accept £2,000 less than what had been offered because of a cut in allocated salaries.

The couple were not available for comment today but Steve Edwards, chairman of the Lancashire Police Federation, said he was aware of the problem and the case surrounding them.

He said: "They joined the force expecting certain conditions, only to be told the rules had changed and their expectations would not be met. It was unfair.

"The matter has been dragging on and we are looking for an outcome soon.

"The couple are being represented by Police Federation solicitors."

A spokesman for Lancashire police today confirmed there were a total of four claims against the force in relation to officers being being misled about housing allowances.

None of the cases had yet been heard, the spokesman added.