Dyfed-Powys Police Force is facing a funding crisis because of new government proposals.

The force is anticipating a shortfall of nearly �9m in its budget for next year, because of changes to the funding formula to police.

The formula will give urban forces more money and less to rural forces like Dyfed-Powys.

Delyth Humfryes: looking at options

Dyfed-Powys Police Authority said council taxes in the area may have to increase substantially to make up for the losses, or services will be cut.

The force currently receives more than �17m in funding from tax payers out of a total budget of nearly �70m.

To make up the �8.7m deficit, it has said it will have to increase the tax payers element by an average of �30 per household.

The authority also said it might have to abandon plans to open up a series of local police stations in rural communities.

So far, only two have been built in an attempt to tackle rural crime.

Delyth Humfryes, of the authority's finance committee said: "We will have to weigh up all our options.

"We will have to make sure the people of Dyfed-Powys receive the best and most efficient policing and not have to pay too much for it.

"We can't cut wages, national insurance or pensions, so we have to look at other issues.

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Ms Humfryes added that the force did not want to stop opening small village police stations, and complained it was being punished for its successes.

"We are one of the most successful police forces and, because we are meeting our targets, we are being penalised for it."

The police authority and Chief Constable Terence Grange will lobby local MPs in Westminster next week to support calls for the funding formula to be changed.

The authority is also writing to AMs and hopes to meet with Welsh Finance Minister Edwina Hart on the issue.

Dyfed Powys Police covers the largest area in Wales and England including a coastline of 350 miles.