A Government funding boost is helping West Yorkshire Police close the gap on other forces for the numbers of officers.

Although West Yorkshire has record numbers of police officers, it has lagged behind similar Metropolitan forces for the percentage of bobbies per head of population.

But West Yorkshire Police Authority is hopeful that it will be on a par with forces like Greater Manchester and the West Midlands by next year.

The authority has spent the last 12 months lobbying the Home Office and local MPs for a fairer funding formula.

Now the Home Office has agreed to increase West Yorkshire's allocation from central funds by 5.2 per cent for the

coming year.

It means the force will recruit more than 220 extra police officers and civilian staff, as well as 75 more Police Community Support Officers.

Councillor Mark Burns-Williamson, police authority chairman, said the lobbying campaign had paid dividends, but vowed that it would continue to press for more funding.

He said: "West Yorkshire has lost out under the funding formula in recent years, but we are pleased we have been listened to and the Home Office has gone some way to rectifying that this year.

"We have had a good settlement and have had a major closing of the gap with other forces from a couple of years ago.

"But under the formula there are still arguments to be made in terms of having our fair share and we will continue to make that case."

This year the numbers of police officers and staff in West Yorkshire topped 8,800 for the first time, while the recorded crime figures plunged.

There are now between 5,500 and 5,600 officers, compared with 5,300 a year ago. West Yorkshire also has more PCSOs

than any other force outside the Met, at around 500.

But both the Greater Manchester and West Midlands forces have more than 8,000 police officers.

Coun Burns-Williamson added: "Over the last two years we have sought to increase the police presence on the streets and reduce crime that most

concerns people, such as burglary,

vehicle crime and robbery. The Chief Constable and his force deserve full credit for responding to the challenge of using last year's growth to make a real difference in performance."

Nationally, there are also record

numbers of officers, the figure topping 140,000 for the first time, with the biggest percentage increase in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Tom McGhie, chairman of West Yorkshire Police Federation, said he welcomed the increase in officers, which was reflected in the performance of the force.

But he warned that West Yorkshire was not closing the gap with other forces as quickly as had been hoped because they were also recruiting at a good pace.

"The police authority has been committed to closing the gap and over the last two years we have been recruiting an additional 200-plus officers. We are pleased the authority is committed to increasing the numbers.

"They are trying to get us to 6,000 officers in West Yorkshire, which is going to be good, but other forces are recruiting, so we are running at a bit of a standstill.

"We have had a decrease in street robberies, burglary and car crime, which shows that recruitment is working.

It shows you get a good return for

your investment."