Test Valley Borough Council's street warden scheme is about to get off the ground and will be 50 per cent funded from central government for its first three weeks.

However, any hope of getting extra funding from police sources is expected to be dashed by the Hampshire Police Authority's crime prevention panel which is meeting to thrash out a policy on the wardens.

Police authority members have been told by a consultant to the crime prevention panel that 'it is only a matter of time before the crime prevention panel receives an approach from an existing or proposed scheme for funding'.

Test Valley's scheme, which will concentrate on Andover, will cost £642,000 over three years and will add £6 a year to the council tax in 2005 unless additional outside funding is secured when government money dries up.

But according to the report prepared for police authority members the Association of Chief Police Officers and Social Exclusion Unit each have a clear policy on this matter.

"The clear inference of these carefully considered policies is that neighbourhood wardens should be funded from other than police budgets," the report concludes.

"The provision of neighbourhood wardens should be regarded as an addition, not instead of properly constituted, trained and accountable police officers."

The panel's view will now be sent to the full authority for its consideration.