POLICE Minister Tony McNulty promised that County Durham would not be broken up as part of controversial plans for a North-East superforce - one of the region's MPs said tonight.

Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham, Durham Police Chief Constable Jon Stoddart, and other police chiefs met with Mr McNulty to discuss the plans to merge Durham, Northumbria and Cleveland into a North-East force.

The proposal has been supported by Durham and Northumbria - but Cleveland police oppose the move and would instead prefer to see a Tees Valley force that would add south Durham to Cleveland's existing patch.

Last night Mr Jones said that Mr McNulty had dismissed this proposal at the meeting at the Home Office.

Mr Jones said: "Mr McNulty's words were there will be no land grab for south Durham.

"He also said that the move towards a single North-East force was still on the cards but he recognised that there needed to be more consultation."

Mr Stoddart and Mr Jones also asked Mr McNulty for a cash handout to help with Durham Polices growing financial crisis.

Police bosses have said the force will be £8m in debt within a few years - due to low precepts and a poor financial settlement from the Government.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: "The meeting went very well and Durham's case was listened to very sympathetically. Our financial experts are continuing to talk to civil servants in the Home Office."