EXTRA cash for police forces will lead to more bobbies on the beat, senior officers pledged last week.

The Home Office revealed the breakdown of where £15m for rural policing would be spent, with about £1m earmarked for North Yorkshire and £124,000 for Durham Police.

The cash was allocated for forces working in largely rural areas with low populations and it will now be a decision for chief constables on how to spend it.

But North Yorkshire assistant chief constable Peter Walker said their main aim would be to increase the number of officers on the beat.

He said: "This announcement recognises the complexities of policing the rural communities.

"Our chief priority will be to increase the patrolling presence of operational officers throughout North Yorkshire."

In Durham, assistant chief constable Ron Hogg said the money would help the force to develop projects in partnership with the community, following the success of their Farm Watch scheme.

He said: "We remain committed to putting more bobbies on the beat through our recently implemented foot patrol strategy."