A LONG-serving policeman's wife today claimed she would have to cancel her silver wedding celebrations because of changes to the force's pay policy.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said she was furious at the changes which, she said, would leave many families short of cash.

Lancashire Constabulary announced the changes in a bid to save £90,000 per year as part of a three million pounds cost-cutting package.

From May, wages will be paid on the last day of the month instead of the 15th.

This means that officers will not be paid for six weeks from April 15 to May 30, leaving many struggling to pay direct debits, maintenance and child support payments.

When officers are paid they will receive wages for the four weeks they have just worked, rather than the current system where they are paid for the two weeks they have just worked and the two weeks they are about to work.

The Constabulary has promised an interest free loan to help any officers in financial difficulty as a result of the action.

They have stressed that the change is simply an administrative one and that no pay will be lost.

But today the wife of the officer with 28 years experience working throughout the county said: "I am absolutely furious. It's my silver wedding anniversary this year and we had planned a special holiday to celebrate but we will have to cancel because we will be short.

"I also have a son at university to support and all the usual bills and direct debits.

"I am very angry that the constabulary can do this just to save a paltry £90,000."

The Constabulary gets funds for wages at the start of each month, and by leaving the money in the bank for four weeks instead of two say they will earn more interest on it.

This is expected to accumulate to £90,000 over the course of a year and will be used to maintain the number of bobbies on the beat, though cuts in support services are expected.

Chief Constable Pauline Clare admitted cuts to services would be necessary when the Constabulary's funding increase of 3.1 percent announced in December was less than the amount needed for pay and price rises for the second year running.

Steve Edwards, chairman of the Police Federation for Lancashire Constabulary, agreed the organisation was forced into the move, but said he hoped it would have a change of heart.

The decision was sealed at a meeting on December 21 where the federation appealed for the Constabulary to avoid this action.

"At the meeting we vehemently opposed the proposal, indicating that morale would be affected, officers would be up in arms about the decision and that we were concerned for their welfare and financial situation," said Mr Edwards.

"We are now seeking legal advice to see what we can do about it.

"I suppose it is good that they did not make anyone redundant, but I think that doing this in the current climate, with police coming under the spotlight of reform, is not an ideal time.

"We will continue to air our views in any arena we can."

A Lancashire Constabulary spokesman said: "The Constabulary acknowledges that some officers may face difficulties in this period -- such as re-scheduling the payment of direct debits and other monthly outgoings - and has therefore made arrangements to offer financial assistance in the form of interest-free loans to bridge the two further weeks between pay dates.

"Staff associations made representations to retain existing arrangements but the decision was that the change was in the best interests of the whole Constabulary."