ONLY one of the five police force mergers proposed by Home Secretary Charles Clarke were yesterday approved by the police authorities involved.

As expected, the Cleveland force voted against the voluntary move - leaving the North-East merger with the Durham and Northumbria forces in limbo.

However, members stepped back from Middlesbrough mayor Ray Mallon's suggestion of taking legal action to halt the creation of a superforce.

The Cleveland force said the "ball was in the Home Secretary's court" and said it would wait to see what he would do.

It has threatened to seek a judicial review over the plans, but yesterday would not confirm if that was being considered.

The Durham and Northumbria authorities announced yesterday they would back the merger.

But Cleveland later announced its refusal to voluntarily merge.

The authority's chairman, Councillor Dave McLuckie, described the proposals as "ill-judged, deeply-flawed - and exactly the opposite of what local people want".

But Northumbria Police Authority chairman, Councillor Mick Henry said, that along with Durham: "We believe it will be in the best interests of all North-East residents for a new merged force, which will be better able to tackle large-scale organised crime and potential terrorism.''

Durham Authority chairman, Councillor Anne Wright, said that after official assurances, her members voted overwhelmingly for a single force and would press for Durham to be the site for the new headquarters.

She said the merger would put an end to financial anomalies which see residents in band D properties in Cleveland pay twice as much for policing as their Northumbria counterparts.

A four-month consultation may start as early as next week - but it remains likely the Home Secretary will force the merger through by April 2007.

Elsewhere in England and Wales, Cheshire decided against merging with Merseyside. West Mercia is known to be against a merger with Staffordshire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands, while forces in Wales also have reservations over the creation of a national force.

Only Lancashire and Cumbria agreed to combine.