HAMPSHIRE police chiefs are threatening to quit Winchester and move their headquarters elsewhere in the county if plans for a re-fit of their current HQ are again refused.

The warning comes as bosses at Hampshire Constabulary announced they are to formally appeal against a decision by Winchester City Council to refuse the planned refurbishment.

The force had applied for permission to carry out a £5.2m overhaul of their Romsey Road headquarters, which staff say leaks through the roof when it rains.

As well as stabilising and safeguarding the building, the plans include increasing car parking space and improving the working conditions for employees.

However, it also includes two controversial schemes.

Firstly, the force wants to replace some existing wooden buildings with a new three-storey extension, in which new technology can be housed.

Secondly, it wants to re-clad the fascia of the building in a highly reflective material, rather than the greying concrete currently in place.

But because of these last two plans, Winchester City Council planning chiefs rejected the police's scheme last October arguing the changes would have too great an impact on the rest of the city.

The force says if its appeal against the council's decision doesn't go in its favour, then leaving the ancient city might be the only option left to them.

Councillor Simon Hayes, chairman of the Hampshire Police Authority, said: "What we decided was that we would take the matter to appeal, but that if that was not successful, then we needed to have a plan B in place.

"Effectively that plan would mean relocating the whole of the headquarters as it simply would not be efficient or practicable to have the HQ spread over two sites.

"It would mean the HQ would have to move out of Winchester and the current site sold-off, possibly for housing."

Cllr Hayes added that there was simply no other option as there were no suitable sites within the city that would meet the size and capacity requirements of the force.

The police's hands are also being tied by the need to begin work on the refurbishment by March 2005 in order to receive a Home Office grant of £500,000.