Carlisle police station was badly damaged in the floods

The north Cumbria headquarters in Rickergate was among scores of buildings hit by the floods which devastated the city in January.

A new custody suite is planned at the force's traffic base at Houghton.

But people living on nearby Brampton Road believe released prisoners will put children and property at risk. They have organised a petition in protest.

'Serious danger'

Assistant Chief Constable Neil Rhodes said that the custody suite was needed.

He said: "Currently what we are doing is either shipping people to Penrith, where there are a small number of cells, or by the good grace of the Court Service we are actually using some Crown Court cells.

"But the facilities there are very poor for the staff who work in there every day, and for the prisoners who spend quite a bit of time in them."

Sheila Harrison, who lives on nearby Brampton Road, said: "Our major concern is that when people are released from the custody unit they are free to go which way they choose and under which transport they choose.

"This will mean several criminals or released prisoners will be walking through our community, which will pose a major danger to our children, our elderly residents and of course our property."

Neil Rhodes denied they would present a risk to the public.

"We don't release people who are the worse for drink or drugs. When people leave our care they are sensible and they are sober."

However, Mrs Harrison said: "Several of our children are of an age where they can go home or to school on their own, and meeting an upset dried out alcoholic or drug addict looking for his next fix is a serious danger to them.