Five police officers are leaving Thames Valley Police each week and the chief constable has admitted the staffing crisis is unlikely to improve in the next 18 months.

In the past five months, 153 officers have resigned, with 38 going on to work in other forces.

In the same period, only 146 officers have been taken on, leaving it well short of its target to recruit 100 new officers every year as well as replacing those who leave.

Chief Constable Sir Charles Pollard has admitted the force is losing an average of 250 officers each year. In a forecast report he predicted that the figure is not expected to improve by the end of the next financial year.

Police Federation leaders have warned the force will face additional problems over the next few years as long-serving officers head for retirement.

Federation branch deputy secretary, Pc Wally Cox, said: "It's a nightmare and it's not going to get better.

"Officers serving in Thames Valley are up to 30 per cent worse off that those living in other parts of the country - the major part of that is housing.

"Even those lodging, face competition from the large student population which drives prices up.

"Thames Valley is a nursery for other forces. People come here, train, and then transfer. They move for a better standard of living - people are voting with their feet."

The force's problems have not eased despite the introduction of a £2,000 annual cost of living allowance for all officers who joined the force after September 1 1994.

Pc Cox added Thames Valley also faced stiff competition from the Metropolitan Police in London - where perks total about £6,000 a year.