HOME Secretary David Blunkett is facing a new call to step in over the Huddersfield- Dewsbury police merger.

Councillors are set to make the demand after massive opposition to the creation of a single division.

Kirklees Council leader Clr Kath Pinnock said she was bitterly disappointed with the police authority's decision.

A motion to next week's council meeting will urge the Home Secretary to scrap the merger.

Clr Pinnock said: "The police authority has chosen to ignore the views of all the elected representatives in Kirklees.

"So our appeal is to the Home Secretary."

A police authority meeting last week approved the launch of the new Kirklees division next April.

It will be based at Huddersfield police station - but plans for headquarters in a more central location have not been ruled out.

Merger opponents fear there will be fewer police and fewer police stations.

Clr Pinnock said: "If the Home Secretary fails to intervene, then we want the police authority to put the merger on hold until they have persuaded local people that there will be no reduction in police stations."

Politicians of all parties have united to condemn the merger.

Clr Pinnock said it was crucial that any resources saved should be put into improved policing.

Local policing plans should reflect the different nature of the areas that make up Kirklees, she added.

"Local policing not remote policing is what we are demanding," said Clr Pinnock.