POLICE divers have become the latest casualties of a reorganisation which today also saw the retirement of five police horses.

The Underwater Search Unit has now had half its staff axed and been moved from its base at Lancashire Police headquarters to a regional base in Runcorn, Cheshire.

Four officers from the unit, which Lancashire ran jointly with Cumbria Police, have now been reassigned to other operational duties.

The cutbacks come after a comprehensive review of all aspects of the constabulary which has also resulted in the loss of five police horses.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said of the eight members of staff from the Underwater Search Unit, two are from Lancashire and two from Cumbria.

The other three constables and one Sergeant, all from Lancashire, have been reassigned.

The Search Unit will now form part of a regional unit covering Merseyside, Greater Manchester, North Wales and Cheshire.

The compression chamber will remain at police HQ.

Horses Achilles, Bacchus, Bucephalus, Dimitrius and Balder, have given more than 75 years service to the force. But they have now come to the end of their working lives and they are being farmed out to pastures new.

As a result of the cutbacks they will not be replaced, but the branch will keep 20 other horses at its base on Lindle Lane, Hutton.

Sgt Alison Lee, from the mounted branch, said she was disappointed the horses would be going but said they had all performed well during their working lives.

She added: "It is always sad that horses have to be retired when they come to the end of their operational duties, but these five have all been found good homes.

"During their working lives the horses have served across the county at football matches, incidents of public disorder and in providing high visibility patrols in towns and villages."

Yard Superviser Jeanette Taylor said the horses had all been with the mounted branch for about 15 years after arriving for training as four-year-olds.

Now 20, they have all been handed over to the care of the Horse and Pony Protection Association (HAPPA), who would make sure they were happy in their new homes.