Budget cuts and a drop in the number of police officers have been cited as reasons for rising crime in most parts of Scotland.

Scottish Police Federation spokesman Jim Fraser said the cuts were not helping the force carry out its work and he feared worse was to come.

BBC Scotland revealed on Thursday that crime was growing in six of Scotland's eight police forces.

The highest rise was in Lothian and Borders, where the crime rate was up by almost a fifth. However, figures did drop in the Strathclyde region.

The figures showed crime to be on the increase in most of Scotland for the second year in succession.

Biggest rise in Borders

The latest figures were drawn from statistics provided by the chief constables of Scotland's eight police forces.

At 18%, Lothian and Borders saw the biggest rise in recorded crime.

The Grampian and Fife forces registered crime increases of around 6% and crime was growing in Central, Northern and Dumfries and Galloway.

When it came to the numbers of crimes solved, Grampian, Lothian and Borders and Tayside were backmarkers - with less than four in 10 solved.

The Association of Chief Constables said the figures were a warning that budgets could not be cut indefinitely.

Scotland's Justice Minister, Jim Wallace, said the present trends would be taken into account in the Scottish Executive's spending review.