The chairman of Cleveland Police authority is calling for an explanation into government claims that the force's future will be decided by next month.

Home Office Minister Hazel Blears is reported to have made the comment despite assurances from the Prime Minister that there would be no enforced mergers.

The Cleveland force is battling against plans to amalgamate it with Durham and Northumbria constabulary to create a North-East superforce.

The minister is reported to have said that some forces are enthusiastic about the proposed mergers particularly in the North-East and Wales.

Coun Dave McLuckie, chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, has written to the minister to ask her to clarify her statement, which he believes flies in the face of the Prime Minister's views.

He said: "I would have thought that by now Hazel Blears and her colleagues in the Home Office would be in doubt that there is no enthusiasm whatsoever for the prospect of a single regional force on the part of Cleveland Police Authority , the force, and, most importantly, the general public we serve.

"I have made it clear that there is no possibility whatsoever of this authority volunteering to become part of a single regional force and underlined the significance of the prime minister's assurance that there would be no forcing of mergers.

"I also believe that Mr Blair's reference to the possibility of a 'strategic coming together on certain issues rather than mergers' drives a coach and horses through the mergers only position which Charles Clarke and Hazel Blears have been promoting so far.

"It really is time for the Home Office to recognise what the Prime Minister clearly understands - that any change in policing will only work if it has the consent, support and involvement of local people.

"In this area any attempt to impose a regional superforce would fail on all those counts."

Earlier this month representatives from Durham Police met with Charles Clarke to show their support for the proposed merger between the three forces.

The delegation put the case for the merger, which is strongly opposed by Cleveland, which favours a merger with the south of Durham to form a new Tees Valley force.