COUNCILS and police forces are being left in the dark about future funding because of Brexit.

Announcements had been expected this week about the local government settlements, as well as for police forces the length and breadth of the country.

But both have now been delayed until after next week's crunch Brexit vote in parliament, leaving local authority bosses and police and crime commissioners hanging.

Speaking at a Blackburn with Darwen Council policy meeting, leader of the local authority Cllr Mohammed Khan said he feared the funding announcement could be further delayed if there was not an agreement over the Prime Minister’s proposed deal to leave the EU.

Council chief executive Harry Catherall added he feared the Government may only make a one-year funding announcement at a time when councils need more financial security in order to plan for the future.

Local government secretary James Brokenshire said the statement - originally planned for Thursday - will not now happen before MPs vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal on Tuesday.

But he added it would not affect the amount of time for councils to comment on the figures.

He will make an oral statement after Tuesday's Brexit vote.