INCREASED funding has been made available allowing the four police forces of the North-East and North Yorkshire to modernise equipment and vehicles.

Durham, Cleveland, Northumbria and North Yorkshire forces are to receive a total of £5.059m grant aid, with approval to borrow a further £5.4m, for "police modernisation" during the year starting in April.

Details were revealed by the Home Office yesterday.

The money forms part of a provision of £87m in grant aid, with credit approval for a further £92.3m, to be spread across the 43 police English and Welsh police forces during the year 2002/3.

Forces can also bid for a share of a further £20m specifically earmarked for modernising police working conditions, with an extra £10m in reserve.

Home Secretary David Blunkett said it represented a 33 per cent increase in funding on the money available for force modernisation during the current year.

But a spokesman for Cleveland Police, which recently announced a £6.6m shortfall to allow it to operate at normal levels, said: "We welcome any extra cash the Government gives, but it still does not get away from the fact that Cleveland needs another £6.6m to ensure the force remains effective in the fight against crime."

Cleveland will get £930,000 from the modernisation pool, with approval to borrow a further £1.1m in 2002/3.

Durham will receive a £916,000 grant with £1.1m borrowing approval, Northumbria, £2.3m and £2.6m, and North Yorkshire, £859,000 and £556,000.