Cleveland Police Authority has launched the first legal challenge against the Governments plans for police force mergers.

The Authority, which is facing being combined with Durham and Northumbria, is to seek a judicial review at the High Court.

Dave Mcluckie, chairman of the Cleveland Police Authority, said he had tried to meet Home Secretary John Reid to discuss the plans, but this had proved impossible.

Weve tried very, very hard to meet with John Reid and his team since the day of his inception and we havent been able to do that.

We want to actually find resolution to this that didnt include court action.

That hasnt been the case, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.