FINANCE chiefs have clawed back a six-figure budget overspend at Cumbria Police by raiding its reserves.

In December, officials warned its 2018-19 revenue budget could tip £646,000 into the red by the end of the financial year in March 2019. But since then, the overspend has been cut back to just £217,000 by using £470,000 of reserves towards balancing the books.

The overspend is due to Cumbria Police paying out more wages than expected in 2018-20 after a recruitment drive to take on more officers. Michelle Bellis, deputy chief finance officer for the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “That was pledged as part of the precept increase last year. It’s also due to the decision to operate some 20 officers over the establishment figure to counterbalance a fall in PCSO numbers."