A LENGTHY delay to the hotly-fought merger of North-East police forces will be announced within a month, the Home Office has hinted.

Police minister Tony McNulty told a delegation from Cleveland authority to expect a "decisive decision" within days of the close of a four-month consultation on July 2.

Both Mr McNulty and his boss, Home Secretary John Reid, have already signalled they have abandoned attempts to force an order to merge through Parliament before the summer.

Therefore, Mr McNulty's comments were immediately seen as increasing the likelihood that a formal delay - perhaps of one year - will be announced next month.

Furthermore, the minister has agreed to visit Cleveland to see for himself why it claims a North-East "super-force" would damage its distinct policing needs.

However, the police authority and the Home Office remain on a collision course over Cleveland's judicial review of the merger - which demands a response from ministers by June 21.

Emerging from the meeting, David McLuckie, Cleveland authority's chairman, said: "We feel a lot more positive about what the Home Office will do.

"It was very different to previous meetings we have had, because Mr McNulty appeared genuinely interested in what we had to say.

"He again indicated the process would be slowed down, without saying by how long, but said he hoped to come back with a decisive decision soon after July 2."

Cleveland has claimed the merger - backed enthusiastically by the Durham and Northumbria forces - will cost £50m without putting a single extra officer on the beat.

It has argued for a delay of 12 months while other options, including its preference of a Tees Valley 'city-region' force, are properly explored.

Mr McLuckie added: "A delay to October or November would not be good enough, the process must be slowed down by a full 12 months."

Two weeks ago, Dr Reid told the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) that he was prepared to move at "slightly different pace" in areas where there is strong opposition to merger.

However, aides have they insisted the new Home Secretary still believes there is a need to create "strategic" forces, to replace smaller, local constabularies.

Police forces which have volunteered to merge with their neighbours could be given priority to go ahead earlier than others in the first wave.

Dr Reid's priority in his new job is a root-and-branch overhaul of the immigration service following a succession of scandals - rather than a fight with chief constables.