MORE than 100 police officers will be catching a bus from Weston to protest in Whitehall over a pay dispute with the Government.

MORE than 100 police officers will be catching a bus from Weston to protest in Whitehall over a pay dispute with the Government.

The officers are attending a march to demonstrate against a Government decision not to backdate a 2.5 per cent pay increase to September 1 last year.

The Weston & Somerset Mercury understands that officers heading to London on January 23 will be using their off duty time to attend.

So far more than 450 officers are going from Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

Previously, North Somerset's Police Federation chairman, Paul Green, has accused the Government of 'losing sight of reality' after its decision.

A mediator between the police and the Government recommended that pay be backdated to September 1 rather than December 1 last year.

This would give each officer an additional £200, costing the Government £40million nationally.

Mr Green has said money is not the issue but it is the Government's decision not to adopt the board's recommendation which has caused upset.

The Police Federation represents 140,000 police officers from the rank of constable to chief inspector.