Lancashire Constabulary could merge with Cumbria if the county's police chiefs get their way in a national shake-up of the police forces.

The constabulary's preferred option, to merge with Cumbria, was sent to the Home Office on Monday as part of a national consultation process, and a response is expected by Friday.

Despite this being the preferred route, police chiefs said merging with Cumbria and Merseyside was still on the table as was an option to amalgamate those three with Cheshire.

Acting Chief Constable, Steve Finnigan said: "It was very clear from all of the analysis and consultation carried out so far that Lancashire and Cumbria is the favoured option for change."

The position of Lancashire Constabulary is at odds with Cumbria's, where a merger with Lancashire and Merseyside is advocated.

There is still time for local residents to have their say on the force's restructuring proposals, the budget and policing plans for the future, as part of a consultation launched by the Police Authority, before a single option is put forward in December.

The authority's chief executive, Brian Aldred, said: "These are all very important issues and we are keen to learn what the people who live and work in Lancashire feel on each of these subjects - which obviously affect them."

Log onto www.lancspa.gov.uk to complete a questionnaire or post your views to the chief executive, Lancashire Police Authority, PO Box 653, Preston, PR2 2WB, for details.

The debate comes after a report from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary earlier this year stated that police forces with less than 4,000 members would not be able to meet the demands of the 21st century.

Lancashire narrowly falls short of the criteria with 3,586 officers. Greater Manchester has 8,119, Merseyside 4,339, Cheshire 2,207, and Cumbria 1,260 officers.