WEST Mercia Constabulary, which serves the Redditch area, has managed to secure the cash it spent on failed merger plans.

Forces across the country are having their expenses capped at £100,000 by the Home Office.

The West Mercia force, which spent £89,061, is being reimbursed for the full amount.

A police spokesman said: "This is excellent news. We are delighted West Mercia Police Authority has been able to secure the full amount of funding.

"The figure relates to the cash costs incurred by the authority during the period when the restructuring of forces was under active consideration.

"It also includes the cost of the extensive public consultation exercise carried out by the police authority in which an overwhelming majority of residents expressed their view that a strategic police force for Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire was the way forward for policing in their local communities."

Some of forces which lost out included Surrey, which claimed £649,311, and Sussex, which claimed £519,879. Both get £100,000.