MINISTERS have come under a stinging attack from Hampshire Police Authority members for pulling the plug on the 101 non emergency police number.

The number is to be axed less than two years after it was set up with about £5m of taxpayers money.

The Home Office has announced it is pulling the plug on the project in three months time and will instead spend the money on the war on terror.

Since its launch in May last year more than 300,000 calls have been made to the 101 number across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight - the first area in the country to pilot the scheme.

It was set up as an alternative to 999 to deal with problems such as vandalism, graffiti, abandoned vehicles, noisy neighbours, rubbish and antisocial behaviour.

The 101 service has improved communications between police and local councils, enabling them to build up a picture of where crime spots are.

Hampshire Police Authority chairman Jacqui Rayment, who is a Southampton city councillor, added: "Southampton is one of the biggest users of 101 and they do not want to see it go."

Police chiefs have drawn up a series of options which will be discussed with council chiefs across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight before the police authority decides the future of 101.

In a report Superintendent Nigel Hindle, head of call management and the 101 service, said that keeping the service in its current form would cost more than £1.5m a year.