CHESHIRE Police will have to pay more than £1bn in pensions for current and former staff, the accounts reveal.

The force, which has more than 2,200 officers, has committed to spending the money as police and support staff retire.

It spent £22.6m on pensions last year, more than quarter of what is spent on salaries for serving officers.

The force's net worth is dwarfed by the cost of the pension schemes for its civilian and police staff.

If Cheshire Police could be sold tomorrow, the buildings, vehicles and other assets would be worth £65m.

But it is committed to paying £1,018bn in pensions, so it has a net negative worth of £953m.

Government recently introduced new arrangements to charge the majority of pensions costs to a separate account, which will be funded by a special Government grant.

That should stop annual variations in pensions expenditure as varying numbers of officers retire - and the resulting varying increases in council tax.

Police pensions rise with inflation.

The scheme is optional and officers contribute a basic 11 per cent of pay, with the chance to make additional contributions.

Retirement is compulsory at 55 for people ranked sergeant and below, and at 60 for other officers, or it can be in completion of 30 years service.

Police can receive up to two thirds of their average pay as a pension.