Norfolk MPs have pledged to lobby for a fair deal for the county's police after chiefs explained how millions had already been saved from force budgets.

Chief constable Phil Gormley and Norfolk Police Authority chairman Stephen Bett travelled to the Houses of Parliament yesterday to explain the potential impact cuts would have on the frontline to the county's MPs.

The delegation now plans to arrange a meeting with policing minister Nick Herbert to put forward Norfolk police's case.

Mr Gormley said: 'It was a very constructive meeting. They seemed to understand the mondernisation we have gone through in recent years and that we are going to have a tougher job than other forces in meeting the challenges set for us.

'I am encouraged that they want to meet Mr Herbert to discuss the reform process. Anything they can do to put forward the county's case must be welcomed.

'We know we cannot be exempt from the cuts but what we want is to be credited for the hard work that has already be done.'

The force has already cut �18m from its annual budget through a string of initiatives introduced over the last four years.

But it now faces the prospect of cutting a further �35m if the government's comprehensive spending review, announced next week is as draconian as feared.

Plans to save �28m are already in place but this would involve reducing staff numbers by 350 police officers, 60 PCSOs and 230 civilians. Even then a further �7m in savings would still need to be found.

Norwich North MP Chloe Smith said: 'It was very important to have a meeting like this which brought together MPs from across the county to hear the issues facing Norfolk police.

'The issues in Norwich are very different to those in towns and villages, but we need to come up with a co-ordinated approach to allow Norfolk police to face those challenges.

'There has already been a great deal of good work to make Norfolk an efficient force. I would like to see that being properly acknowledged as part of the spending review.

'I would not like to see Norfolk penalised disproportionately for the hard work it has done - that would not be fair and there must be a solution.'

North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb said the force's cost cutting in recent years should be recognised. But he added that Norfolk would inevitably be hit by the spending review.

'My first instinct would be to protect the frontline but there will increasingly be a need to work in more imaginative ways, for example through the special constabulary and PCSOs,' he said.

'Norfolk police have in the past been very keen on a merger with Suffolk police and certainly there is scope for more collaborative working.

'Of course we can put across the argument that Norfolk is an efficient force and should be treated as such. But there is no escaping the fact that the face of policing on a national level is changing.'

Before the meeting Norfolk police issued a statement saying: 'Norfolk constabulary has already transformed its business and now has to decide how to reduce levels of service.

'The constabulary and authority believe strongly that Norfolk people should not be unfairly disadvantaged by its previous foresight and resulting success.'

Mr Bett said: 'It is ironic that when we have worked hard to put our house in order, we find we are being treated like other forces which are behind us in development terms.'

Over the past three years a number of changes have been made at Norfolk police. These include cutting backroom bureaucracy and duplication of work as well as a review of response teams and police station opening times.

Police officers cannot be made redundant but there is currently a freeze on recruitment which could see the current number of 1,600 officers cut by 20pc over four years.

Civilian staff are currently awaiting the outcome of a review which could see job cuts.