A GRASSROOTS crime-fighting organisation has been hit by police cuts.

Neighbourhood Watch volunteers in Rubery are among those in the district struggling to keep residents informed about crime and police chiefs have been forced to admit that their support for the service has slipped.

An article on Rubery's Neighbourhood Watch website reveals the village's weekly crime bulletin has been dropped because of the demise of a vital telephone information service in February.

Watch representatives, who are usually responsible for a close or a couple of streets, could previously call the line each week and listen to a recorded update from police about local crimes.

If for example there had been a spate of shed break-ins, volunteers could make neighbours aware.

Watch member Alan Batchelor, aged 63, of Segbourne Road, wrote the website report.

"The problem is resources - police officers want to help but they are just too stretched," he said.

Bromsgrove and Redditch division's chief inspector, Dave Willetts, admitted there has been a slip in the communication service provided by police and he apologised.

He said two officers previously filled the Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator position but they moved back on the beat "in line with the public wanting to see more officers out and about," he added.

A member of support staff replaced the pair but he has been off work due to illness and the role has not been filled for number of reasons - one of them being financial.

Ch Insp Willetts asked Watch members to be patient until a long-term solution can be found.

Log onto www.neighbourhoodwatchnet/local/rubery/html for details about the service.