A cash-strapped police force has spent thousands of pounds on branded mugs for an anti-drug campaign.

Thames Valley Police splashed out £12,000 on promotional crockery and material for the scheme.

Part of the spend was £5,000 on 2,000 coffee mugs.

The force had its budget slashed by £99 million in the past seven years, and is expected to make cuts of another £14.3 million in the next three years.

But money was spent to promote the anti-organised crime Stronghold campaign, including nearly £5,000 on promotional coffee mugs alone.

In March, the force, which patrols three counties, announced it would be making cuts to its dog unit and at the start of the year some households found their council tax raised by £12 to pay for front line policing.

Chairman of Thames Valley Police Federation Craig O'Leary said spending on materials for the Stronghold campaign was "contentious."

He said: "It does seem like quite a lot of money to be spending but they have to be able to highlight these campaigns to the max.

"It's about striking that balance with how much is spent and it is a fine balance.

"A lot of people will have something to say about how Thames Valley Police should spend its money because there's a finite amount to be spent and that budget has to be used wisely."

The police force bought 2,268 mugs promoting its Stronghold campaign against organised crime, which were given to the public and workers in partner agencies, as well as frontline officers and police staff.

The black-and-white mugs cost £4,459 plus VAT.

A further 13,565 pieces of unspecified merchandise cost £7,887 plus VAT.

Detective chief inspector Darran Hill, from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit at TVP said the advertising was stopping youths from getting involved in crime.

He said: "Through minimal expenditure the campaign has delivered community engagement and presentations to charities, businesses and local authorities to raise awareness and enhance our approach to what is significant and damaging criminal activity.

"It is my belief that we have made a huge transformation within the force and our approach to partnership working, and we have made very strong bonds with partner agencies.

"We are safeguarding the most vulnerable people, as well as working with youth groups to stop young people from entering a life of crime.

"It is my view that without the investment to advertise our campaign we would not have such a major impact on tackling serious and organised crime."

During the course of the campaign, officers have seized £2 million in cash and 16kg of drugs across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

The campaign has also seen 19 firearms removed from the streets and 800 arrests.