LANCASHIRE'S police chief has missed becoming the country's first female Inspector of Constabulary.

Pauline Clare, who in 1995 became the first woman chief constable in the country, was widely tipped to get the top job and would have been the first woman to do so in the 146 years of the inspectorate.

The post carries a salary of up to £117,000 and would have seen the 55-year-old taking responsibility for checking the performances of a group of forces and overseeing reforms put forward by the Home Secretary.

In a statement Mrs Clare said she was disappointed at not getting the job, which she was hoping to take up when her seven-year tenure with Lancashire Police runs out.

She said: "My fixed term appointment as Chief Constable of the constabulary concludes at the end of July this year.

"In view of this, I did express an interest in becoming one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary.

"Naturally, I am disappointed as I had hoped to assist the Home Office on the police service with the Police Reform Programme."

A Home Office spokesman said it did not comment on individual applicants.