BURY'S police force is woefully short-staffed compared to neighbouring districts, according to MP Ivan Lewis.

He is calling on the Chief Constable to put more officers on the streets across the borough.

Mr Lewis said it is "unfair and unacceptable" that Bury has the lowest number of officers by far than elsewhere in Greater Manchester.

Figures show that by next March, Bury will have 279 police posts, 118 fewer than any other division. Rochdale will have 406, Bolton 513, and 550 in Salford.

Mr Lewis is asking Councillor Stephen Murphy, chairman of the Greater Manchester Police Authority, for a meeting with him, Chief Constable David Wilmot, and Bury North MP David Chaytor.

"I don't believe we should have the same as Manchester or Salford," he said. "But the gap between Bury and the other divisions is too much and it's completely unjustifiable."

He said that crime, particularly armed robberies, ram-raids and personal attacks, in the south of the borough, had increased significantly.

"We have a right to have our fair share of resources and I don't believe we have that at the moment," he said.

"The police are being asked to do their job with their hands tied behind their back. With so few officers, is it any wonder that people are dissatisfied? Imagine the difference if we had another 50 officers."

Superintendent Steve Westcott, deputy divisional commander of Bury, said that resources were allocated after considering the population, crime levels, size and socio-economic factors of each borough.

"That formula is currently under review," he said. "We would welcome any increase in police officers but it would be unfair to take resources from other divisions which have far greater problems than Bury.

"Bury officers do carry a heavy workload and the public of the borough do get a good return for their money from our staff."