THIRTY police posts are being axed as part of budget cuts.

The traffic unit in Leigh, which covers Bolton, is due to close next month, meaning Greater Manchester Police will keep just two other sites.

This means that the region will be covered by 90 dedicated traffic officers instead of 120 in order to find savings of £134m by 2015.

Force bosses have denied claims motorists’ safety was being put at risk.

Insp Phil Bromley, currently at Leigh, will be in charge at the base in Eccles. This will cover Bolton, Bury, Wigan, Salford and Trafford.

He said: “While we accept we are having to work with less resources, we will be looking at making the best of them and making sure that our officers are on the roads and visible at key times.”

Ch Insp Rachel Buckle added: "In line with the ongoing budget cuts at Greater Manchester Police, the structure of road traffic policing will change to make units at Eccles and Chadderton our two traffic hubs.

"Both units will have the resources and expertise to enable our specially trained traffic officers to do their job effectively.

"Since the budget cuts came into force, we have changed the way our traffic officers work to meet the needs of the public.”

Police now have a dedicated bike unit which continues to have success in tackling anti social use of off-road and quad bikes.

And traffic Police Community Support Officers also deal with anti-social vehicle use and the lower level traffic offences.

Ch Insp Buckle said: “The tactical vehicle intercept unit is also successful at tackling serious criminals who use our roads as a network to carry out their illegal activities.

"The introduction of the serious collision investigation unit has had a considerable effect on reducing investigation times for fatal collisions and also taken the burden off road policing units who patrol our roads and ensure the law is upheld."