PLANS to fight crime may have been wiped out by an £8m "black hole" in the budget of beleaguered Cleveland Police, it was revealed last night.

Only weeks ago the Government approved plans for three police stations as part of a £20m initiative to regenerate parts of Teesside.

But it now looks as though new stations in Middlesbrough, Redcar and South Bank, as well as plans to boost the ranks of front-line officers, could be put on hold because of the financial crisis.

Yesterday, members of Cleveland Police Authority attended a special briefing with Chief Constable Sean Price at the force's Middlesbrough headquarters.

The Northern Echo was not allowed in, but the authority's vice-chairman and magistrate Edward Cox said various options for the force's future were discussed.

He said that the new stations, including a 50-cell custody suite at St Hilda's, Middlesbrough, as well as plans to introduce 100 extra police officers and 100 Police Community Support Officers may now be postponed.

Last night, Redcar MP Vera Baird said she did not want to see council taxpayers picking up the tab for any budget shortfall.

"If it got to the position where it couldn't do its job and there weren't enough police on the street because it has not got the resources, I would ask for financial help," she said.

"If Cleveland Police implodes then I will step in and ask the Home Office to help out, but who foots the bills depends on whose fault it is."

The force's finance director, Steve Prevell, has been suspended while an investigation is carried out.

Councillor Ken Walker, the chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, has already said he will resign if an inquiry by the Audit Commission finds him responsible.

Cleveland Police Federation secretary PC Brian Docherty said: "There are clearly hard financial decisions to be made now and in the coming year.

"For our part, we support Mr Price and his executive, but would expect to be consulted at all stages of the process in order that members' working conditions are protected."

Stockton South MP Dari Taylor, who is also Parliamentary Private Secretary to Police Minister Hazel Blears, said: "At the end of the day the buck will have to stop with Ken Walker because he is the manager of the police authority.

"Someone has got to know what has gone on. It is very distressing because I thought they (Cleveland Police) had turned a corner, having had two major and very expensive investigations."

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar repeated calls for Coun Walker's resignation.

He said: "He is the boss and responsible for monitoring the budget. He controls the purse strings so he should go and go now."

Mr Cox said: "There will be no cover-up and the findings of the inquiry will be made public.

"The chairman, Ken Walker, has got the full support of the police authority.

"The briefing was an opportunity to update members on the progress we have made and the work still to be undertaken."