WEST Yorkshire and Humberside Police forces claim to have lost a total of more than £23,000 in deals to cover costs related to the Government's stalled mergers.

Sacked former Home Secretary Charles Clarke planned to merge 43 forces to as few as 17, including a Yorkshire superforce.

But consultation with the forces revealed the move was widely opposed.

His successor John Reid scrapped the plans soon after taking over in May.

West Yorkshire's force claimed £104,569 in reimbursement from the Home Office .

And Humberside claimed £119,730 for work it said it had carried out.

But policing minister Tony McNulty said claims would be capped at £100,000 per force in all but four cases.

It leaves West Yorkshire £4,569 down on its claim and Humberside £19,730 down.

Mr McNulty said the payments were offered to "provide police authorities with assistance towards the additional costs incurred through the preparatory work they had carried out".

Surrey is the biggest loser. It wanted £649,311.

In all, forces have £2.5m of expenditure not covered by reimbursement.

Exceptions to the £100,000 cap were made for Lancashire and Cumbria police authorities as they had been selected to be the first merged force and had done work for the Home Office.