The chairman of the Greater Manchester Police Authority, Councillor Stephen Murphy, said the 4.9% increase in government funding was insufficient to meet costs.

The authority is also to receive a further �2m to fight street crime.

But the rise has been defended by Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas as the "largest ever".

I think the people of Greater Manchester will be wanting to ask Councillor Murphy and his colleagues what they are going to do with the money

Phil Woolas MP

Councillor Murphy said he would be asking the authority's 10 metropolitan boroughs for more money to run the force.

He said: "If we don't have the money, we have two choices.

"We either raise the community charge or cut back in the police force."

But Mr Woolas hit back, saying: "These are the largest increases in funding that there have ever been - more than twice the level of inflation for the police.

'Biggest increase'

"These are huge increases and the MPs for Greater Manchester on the whole yesterday were celebrating.

"David Chaytor (MP for Bury North) said it was the biggest increase Bury had ever had.

"I think the people of Greater Manchester will be wanting to ask Councillor Murphy and his colleagues what they are going to do with the money."

Nationally, policing in England will receive a 6.2% increase but some forces will get as little as 3%.