AROUND £2 million worth of savings need to be found to stop Bournemouth's community care department spiralling over budget.

A year after the last crisis, council officers say they are once again struggling to cope with an increased demand for expensive care services.

Last year the unit was heading for an overspend of £1.9 million, reduced to £15,000 after a range of efficiencies and savings were put in place.

In light of this, the council increased the community care budget by £1.8 million yet the department has still run into serious financial difficulties.

A report to today's adult and community services panel says that budget pressures are inevitable because of medical advances and the fact that people are living longer. But it is also being stretched by an increase in people with autism or Asperger's Syndrome, an increase in drug and alcohol addicts and an increase in the number of people with learning disabilities and requiring services.

The plan is to continue with many of last year's efficiencies, including not filling posts that were frozen last year, and exploring other cost-cutting ideas.