Selby’s night marshals could be scrapped due to a cash crisis.

The marshals were launched in 2007 with the aim of combating criminal and antisocial behaviour around pubs and clubs, and have led to a drop in violent alcohol-fuelled crime.

But Selby District Council, which provides about £20,000 towards the scheme, may have to scrap its contribution to the the national funding cuts.

North Yorkshire County Council’s Selby area committee has been told there is uncertainty over potential sources of the money needed and the outcome of one funding bid will not be known until next month.

District council leader Mark Crane said: “The scheme has been well-received and is one of those things we would very much like to continue, but we are looking at significant budget pressures and that means everything has to be scrutinised.

“There are concerns about the continuation of night marshals and it’s in the melting-pot at the moment, which is why we are looking at other areas of funding. From the feedback we have had, people feel safer through the presence of the marshals, together with the good work the police do.

“Given a free rein, we would obviously continue it, but unfortunately we will have to make hard choices.”

Since the night marshals were launched, violent crime in the Selby area has fallen by more than 60 per cent, with criminal damage and drug-dealing showing sharp reductions. The scheme is also believed to have saved North Yorkshire Police between £92,000 and £167,000 in potential investigations.

A report by senior policy and partnerships officer Kay Ritchie, which went before the area committee meeting, said: “A number of different options are currently being investigated, but these are all subject to confirmation for budgets for the next financial year. Funding bids have also been submitted to the county-wide community safety partnership to support the continuation of the service and the outcome of this will not be known until February.

“The project is recognised as a successful initiative which has significantly improved community safety and people’s perceptions of safety in Selby.”