Policing across Horsforth, Whar-fedale and Aireborough will not suffer in any way if Horsforth's police station is shut down completely, say police chiefs.

The future of the offices and houses that make up the police complex is under review as part of a force-wide reshuffle of estate.

Chief Superintendent Ian Levitt has reassured people that whatever the outcome, policing will remain the same across the area.

But Horsforth CIT Chairman Chris Townsley (Lib Dem, Hors) is furious at the possibility of a closure, saying that he feels let down by the police.

He said: "We have been campaigning for years to reopen the police station and I have found out that it could well be sold.

"I am absolutely livid and I feel very let down by the police.

"We have been ploughing money into policing left, right and centre along with Otley and Aireborough and we have put a lot of money into policing in Horsforth.

"What kind of a message are the police giving out?

"I know that the police station is not open to the public, but there is a police presence in the town which means a lot to people.

"It is one thing to have a non-public station, but it is certainly another to have no station at all."

But Chief Supt Levitt said: "The building is not mine, so I have no power, but I do have officers working in the detached houses.

"We are in the process in the division of drawing up an estate strategy but because of the reshuffle, everything is up in the air.

"I have got plans to change various things and it is about locating the right staff in the right places.

"If the Horsforth buildings were snatched away from me tomorrow then I would have a lot of staff to relocate but if it stays for another two, three, four or 40 years then I would use it - but we are trying to be more strategic.

"What will not change is the commitment to policing and the style of policing will not change because the demands of Otley and other places are very different to the demands of the inner city areas."

Neil Hunt, chairman of the Horsforth Neighbourhood Watch, said that the police and neighbourhood watch were used to working together so it was a shame that there could be arguments ahead.

He said: "It is a slap in the face for Horsforth and one which Horsforth will not turn the other cheek.

"The police will be failing to police the community because there won't be that presence we have even though the station isn't public."

And John Brodwell, Chairman of the Civic Society said: "People are very unhappy that the police station was closed to the public and there is a desire for the station to reopen fully, so it would therefore be sad to learn that it is to be sold."

A police spokesman said: "We are currently looking at the options for Horsforth Police Station but no final decision has yet been made.

"However, it isn't an open police station with public access but a base from which some officers and teams sometimes operate."