AVON and Somerset Police is waiting to see what effect the latest round of Government cuts will have on the force.

Chancellor George Osborne has announced a budget cut of "less than 6%" for police and also said the Home Office resource budget will be cut by 6% during yesterday's (June 27) spending review.

It is feared police numbers could be cut drastically but Avon and Somerset Police says it has "had no indication" of what the cuts will mean to policing locally.

A statement from the police and crime commissioner's office read: "Many of you may be aware that yesterday’s comprehensive spending review announcement only gave headline figures for a cut to the Home Office.

"We have had no indication yet of what the Home Office cut means to police forces locally.

"We were expecting a letter from the Home Secretary yesterday afternoon this did not come through and we are hoping for something today.

"As soon as this comes through we will be able to give you a clear picture of what this means for Avon and Somerset."

Mr Osborne also said local Governments and communities will see their resource budget cut by 10% and a 10% cut in spending for environment, food and rural affairs.

Taunton-based waste company Viridor says the cuts pose a "potential risk" to the ability of firms to provide "essential recycling and waste services."

Dan Cooke, director of external affairs for Viridor, said: “Waste reduction, re-use, enhanced recycling and recovering value from what remains are UK success stories. 

"That success has been driven by strong policy, fiscal intervention and investment in collection and processing infrastructure from the public and private sectors.

"Today’s further efficiencies identified by the Chancellor pose a potential risk to the ability of DEFRA and local authorities to deliver on policy and provide essential recycling and waste services. 

"What’s more, the lack of clarity on future rates or any reference to retaining the real terms value of landfill tax moving forward threatens to stall investment, new infrastructure and employment at a critical point in the UK’s fragile economic recovery.”