Thames Valley Police Authority is set to spend more than £600,000 upgrading vacant properties in its housing stock to make them fit for occupation.

The authority is being recommended to spend £99,000 renovating ten quarters which have been vacant for a significant length of time, and £515,000 converting 13 other houses into single quarters.

The proposals, which will go before the authority's property committee tomorrow (WEDS), follow problems the force has had in recruiting and keeping officers because of the high cost of living in the Thames Valley.

A report by Thames Valley chief constable Sir Charles Pollard said: "The problems of recruitment and retention within the force have resulted in a comprehensive review of vacant houses owned by the police authority.

"The properties forming part of the review include houses recently vacated and vacant married quarters which have been retained for new recruits.

"After careful consideration of the options for each property, the recommendation for their future use falls into one of three categories; making surplus properties suitable for occupation by married officers, conversion for single quarters use and, for a selected number of properties, disposal to fund the purchase of better located houses and flats."

Six of the married quarters are in Oxfordshire, including two in Witney, two in Chinnor and one each in Banbury and Woodstock. One house in Kidlington is being converted for new recruits in the Oxford area.

No police-owned houses in Oxfordshire are proposed in the list to be sold off.