THE MERGER of Lancashire and Cumbria constabularies could be the blueprint for force mergers across England, new Home Secretary John Reid believes.

The minister is to reconsider predecessor Charles Clarke's plans for nationwide amalgamations but hopes that the North West could lead the way.

While the Home Office insists he is committed to the need for bigger constabularies to meet new threats from organised crime and terrorists, they admit the former Defence Secretary will not just sign off the existing proposals.

Dr Reid is to look again at the whole merger plan before considering the individual proposals.

This is expected to delay the timetable for implementation of the changes especially in those areas where there is strong opposition.

Whitehall sources stress that the new Home Secretary will listen and be sensitive to objections to the current plan before making his final decision.

But a senior aide to Dr Reid said that the willingness of Lancashire and Cumbria to merge makes them the favourites to lead the way.

He said: "The Lancashire and Cumbria merger could be the pathfinder project for the mergers.

"They have both agreed to the change.

"When other forces see that it can be a success, they will want to follow suit."

The first set of mergers Lancashire and Cumbria, the West Midlands, the North East and Wales were set to go ahead in April next year under Mr Clarke's timetable.

But now strong new objections on cost have been made by some police authorities and chief constables casting doubt on the efficiency on some of the plans.

Malcolm Doherty, chairman of Lancashire Police Authority, said he was still hopeful the April deadline could be met.

He said if deadlines that had been put in place were met a new chief constable for Cumbria and Lancashire could be appointed in early to mid-September.

In relation to being a pathfinder project, he said: "I think it drives us forward that are setting the mark for the rest of the country.

"What we are trying to do is make sure that what we do works out well for everybody else."

He said he had met police minister Tony McNulty yesterday (Wed) to raise issues like council tax harmonisation between the merging counties.