West Mercia Police Authority has been consulting residents for their views over merger proposals in the region.

Just 7% were in favour of linking up with three other forces, and 88% want the current service covering three counties to remain untouched.

People responded by telephone, post, public meeting or the internet to express views, with 3,000 giving comments so far.

CHARLES CLARKE'S OPTIONS FOR WEST MIDLANDS REGION 2 forces: West Midlands & Warwickshire merge, Staffordshire & West Mercia merge 1 force: West Midlands, Warwickshire, Staffordshire & West Mercia all merge into one service

More than 1,300 people called a telephone line, with another 1,350 making contact over the web and 75 people have submitted letters.

The phone line has closed, but emails and letters can be sent until 9 December.

West Mercia Police Authority meet in public on Tuesday 13 December to approve the final submission to go to home secretary Charles Clarke by 23 December.

He has published a number of proposals, but the Home Office said other options for forces to stay as they are, or other combinations of mergers, can still put be forward.