THE future of Lancashire's 115 crime-fighting community support officers (CSOs) is under threat unless new cash is found, police chiefs have warned.

The concern was revealed as Lancashire Constabulary put in a bid for £350,000 of Home Office cash for an extra 18 CSOs, who have limited powers to tackle low-level problems,

Cash for the payment of CSOs' wages is split 50-50 between the police and the Government. But the Home Office funding - currently over £1million a year - will run out in the 2006/7 financial year.

And the Lancashire Police Authority revealed it is making representations about the force's long-term ability to fund the officers.

A contingency fund will be used to pay the police's share of the extra 18 officers if the latest bid is successful. The authority supported the bid because Chief Constable Paul Stephenson wants to take advantage of any opportunities to boost the number of police workers on the county's streets.

A report to the authority says: "Members, whilst supportive of the bid, expressed concern at the demand this additional commitment would place on the 2005/6 budget and council tax. However, on balance, the community agreed that the authority should support the bid.

"In doing so, the authority asked for its concerns to be brought to the attention of the Home office in respect of longer-term ability to fund the consequences of the bid."

CSOs were launched in December 2002 after 72 were recruited across Lancashire with £1million of Home Office cash.