A former town mayor has slammed the possibility that police horses could be scrapped by next year.

Former High Wycombe mayor and Wycombe Labour chairman Khalil Ahmed spoke out after it was announced that the department was under review under new cost-cutting plans.

Cllr Ahmed said the closure would be “another blow to vital services being cut in the area”.

He said: “Thames Valley Police [will be] put under extreme pressure to protect the safety and security of people without adequate resources, such as the mounted section.

“It is not a resource that is used every day but to have it is a great asset.”

Bosses are preparing to present various budget proposals to the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Anthony Stansfeld, later this month.

A spokesman said the three options being considered were to maintain the mounted section in its current format, to restructure the unit to continue the current service level while making savings or to scrap it completely.

But Cllr Ahmed is worried closing the department could result in “more harm and distress”.

He added: “If we have another EDL march or something similar and if we don’t have the resources, like the mounted section, it is going to result in crime and disorder.

“We are privileged to have it and we should retain it.

“They do an absolutely spectacular job and it is an essential piece of law enforcement.”