EFFORTS to stop the merger of West Mercia police force into a regional superforce were renewed by Redditch Council on Monday night.

Councillors unanimously supported a motion to "call upon all Worcestershire councils and Members of Parliament for the county to stand together using their best endeavours to ensure the retention of our excellent police force."

The motion was submitted by Conservative councillor Juliet Brunner, who said she thought the fresh effort by the council could help sway a decision to amalgamate the force with nearby West Midlands, Warwickshire and Staffordshire forces.

The controversial plans,announced earlier this year, have received widespread opposition including protests from West Mercia police authority itself.

Mrs Brunner said she thought now was a good time to voice fresh opposition to the proposed mergers as recent changes had presented the council with an opportunity to lobby again.

She said recent consultation figures had shown 88 per cent of those responding to a survey on the issue did not want a merger of police forces.

"In Redditch we have an opportunity to set a precedent - keeping the fight against the proposed merger high on this Government's agenda," she added.

"I really think councillors should be reflecting on what the merger would mean to us locally if we were to become part of the West Midlands superforce. This is not just a change of insignia or a new uniform, it will be a dilution of an identity that the force has worked so hard to achieve."

And deputy leader councillor Bill Hartnett said his greatest fear was the loss of the 'West Mercia style' which he said was unique.

He said: "We want, expect, and need to maintain that West Mercia style of policing."