A NORTH-EAST police chief last night dismissed a poll that found overwhelming opposition to Government plans for a regional super-force.

A Mori poll carried out for Cleveland Police Authority asked more than 2,400 people in County Durham and Teesside if they wanted a regional police force.

Only eight per cent of respondents backed the idea, with 18 per cent in favour of two forces and 70 per cent preferring to stay with the existing three-force structure.

The findings were welcomed by Cleveland Police Authority chairman Councillor Dave McLuckie as "a very clear indication of the views of the people of the Tees Valley and County Durham, conducted by a highly reputable organisation, which demonstrates beyond any shadow of doubt that the prospect of a single North-East force is not welcomed by the vast majority of residents in the area".

He said: "What is striking is that, whilst there is some variation in the figures across different council areas, the fact is that the order of preference remains the same -with retaining three forces first, creating two forces second and a single regional force third.

"I do believe that these results must be taken very seriously by all those involved, not only the police authorities and forces within the region, but also MPs, the Home Office team conducting the review of policing structures and the Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, and his ministerial team."

Jon Stoddart, the incoming Durham chief constable, said the poll was worthless because its question had been drafted to produce the required result.

Mr Stoddart, who is currently Durham's deputy chief constable, said: "If you ask people in Cleveland if they want a police force based in Newcastle, then what do you expect the answer to be?

"We are very disappointed with Mori.

"It did not present why the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers support a strategic force."

Meanwhile, the Home Office made a surprise pledge yesterday to consider a fresh attempt to block the cre- ation of a single North-East force.

Police Minister Hazel Blears told MPs it was not too late for Cleveland's force to put forward a case for a Tees Valley force, formed by the merger of Cleveland with South Durham.

She said any new arguments would have to be compelling to overcome the problems that it would be too small and divide the Durham force.

A Home Office review team said only a region-wide force, favoured by Northumbria and Durham, could meet the new threats of organised crime and terrorism.

The option of a Tees Valley force and a second force merging North Durham with Northumbria was thought to have been blocked by the Home Office this month.

But, yesterday, Ms Blears said: "We tried to be honest in saying what options were worth working on, but that does not rule out other options coming forward."

She defended the speed of the shake-up by insisting morale would drain away if there was any delay once the Home Office made had made its intentions clear.

It emerged, however, that any force can block progress for at least four months if it declines to merge voluntarily, during which further consultation would be heard.

The Home Office would then be required to order the creation of the new force structure.