NORTH YORKSHIRE'S top police officer has revealed that the force's budget is under considerable strain.

Chief Constable David Kenworthy told members of the region's Police Authority that more cash was needed. Speaking at a meeting at Catterick Garrison, he said that major incidents in the area covered by the force, including the Great Heck rail crash, and unexpected pensions payments meant that the budget could be overspent by up to £4 million this year.

If continuing investigations like the ongoing "Body in a Suitcase" inquiry become protracted, then the projected overspend was more likely.

The Chief Constable said: "The requirement of the force to respond to major incidents this year will cost us between £500,000 and £900,000.

"When this is added to unanticipated pensions costs of £3.1 million it means that we have had to take money from the capital programme and reserves to balance the budget.

"The Government has indicated that we might get some of the Great Heck costs back, through a national contingency fund for emergency events, but we haven't received anything yet."

The Police Authority has agreed to write to Home Secretary David Blunkett to urge him to release the cash soon to relieve some of the financial pressure.

The cash would be in addition to an extra £1 million, which was recently awarded to fund the costs of policing Menwith Hill and Fylingdales.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We are sure that Mr Blunkett will look at any correspondence and examine its contents carefully."

Updated: 12:07 Friday, November 30, 2001