VILLAGERS have decided to cease funding their PCSOs.

Lawford, Manningtree, and Mistley councils currently pay half of the cost of two PCSOs, with the police picking up the rest of the bill.

But, from April next year, the police will no longer contribute to the cost of individual officers.

It costs the councils £34,000 for the two PCSOs and they say continuing with the scheme would “be an unsustainable burden on our communities”.

They were told there were three options – to continue funding two PCSOs, to fund one PCSO, or to cease funding the PCSOs.

Alan Coley, Lawford Parish Council chairman, said: “Unfortunately, we feel funding PCSOs without match funding would be an unsustainable burden on our communities.”

The council will now look into possible alternatives, such as street wardens.

A joint statement from all three councils said: “Councillors of Lawford, Manningtree and Mistley wish to thank our PCSOs, present and past for their commitment to our community and we wish them well for the future, whatever the new arrangements may be.”

Councillors understand the PCSOs will be deployed elsewhere from April 1.