SPIRALLING fuel costs are putting a huge dent in the budgets of the emergency services. Early projections have indicated that Herts Police will spend an extra £200,000 to £300,000 on petrol over the next financial year. A spokesperson said it was placing

SPIRALLING fuel costs are putting a huge dent in the budgets of the emergency services.

Early projections have indicated that Herts Police will spend an extra £200,000 to £300,000 on petrol over the next financial year.

A spokesperson said it was placing significant pressure on the police budget, but he emphasised that there were no plans to make any cuts at this stage.

He said: "We are at a relatively early stage in the financial year and will be managing this spending pressure alongside all of the constabulary's other budgets for the rest of the year with a view to delivering services within our overall agreed budget.

He added: "Escalating prices in areas such as this are clearly influential in our ability to deliver on budget however and we will be developing action plans over coming months in order to be able to manage these increased costs."

Last month, the ambulance service also reported that they were overspending by about 20 per cent on fuel. Their total annual fuel budget is £4m-£5m.

A spokesperson said: "We have raised the matter as a cost pressure with our commissioners and will clearly have to make savings elsewhere if we cannot secure additional funding. At the moment it is business as usual and frontline services will not be compromised at all.