A plan to cut police helpdesks has been criticised by MPs who plan to hold top talks with West Yorkshire's chief constable.

In a bid to slash thousands of pounds from its budget the force will close 13 helpdesks across the county.

This means the public will be denied access to officers at police stations in Shipley, Bingley, Otley, Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike and Brighouse.

Consultants for West Yorkshire Police carried out a review of the desks and from their findings the force decided those with less than 100 visits a week should close.

Shipley Conservative MP Philip Davies, pictured, said: "I think that's absolutely outrageous. West Yorkshire Police talk about neighbourhood policing. It's not just about seeing a police officer down on your street, and that's pretty rare at times, it's about feeling there is a police presence and that it is accessible."

Mr Davies said he would be in touch with Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn and Mark Burns-Williams chairman of West Yorkshire Police Authority.

Otley's Liberal Democrat MP Greg Mulholland is also against any downgrading of services at Otley Police Station.

He said: "I am appalled to hear of proposed cuts to Otley's police services - this flies in the face of the Government's commitment to community policing."

Mr Mulholland and fellow Liberal Democrat ward councillor Ryk Downes are planning a campaign to stop the closure.

A report to the police authority said reducing staff at the helpdesks would lead to a saving of £318,000 in the forthcoming financial year with more in the years to follow.

Rachel Hemingway, joint branch secretary of the West Yorkshire Police Branch of Unison, said the union planned to mount a local campaign to keep these helpdesks open. "It's the loss of a local community service. For example if they close Bingley and Shipley help desks if anyone wants to go and report something do they have to go on a bus to Bradford?"

Part of the plan is to reduce the number of 24-hour help-desks to just one per division which is also expected to save a further £346,000.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said the cuts were to be made "reluctantly" because of a difficult budget but front-line officer posts would be protected. It said its Neighbourhood Policing Teams which are being introduced across Bradford would give the public more contact.

The spokesman added: "To ensure we are able to deliver a value-for-money service, we have decided to close a small number of police front counters and reduce opening times at others to coincide with demand. Full details have yet to be finalised and we will ensure communities are given advance notice."

As previously reported West Yorkshire Police Authority has agreed an increase of five per cent in its share of this year's council tax bill. It has a budget of £380 million.