David Maclean accused police chiefs of "selling out"

Cumbria Police, which boasts just 1,260 officers, has agreed to plans to merge with at least one neighbouring force.

But Penrith and the Borders MP David Maclean has condemned the force and police authority for "failing to stand up for the people of Cumbria".

He described the actions of the police authority as "an affront to democracy".

The number of Cumbria's officers is well below the 4,000 Home Office target for "stand-alone" forces.

Plans are for it to be merged with Lancashire or become part of a combined force with Lancashire and Merseyside.

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But the Conservative MP rounded on senior officers and the police authority, saying: "I am disappointed that the authority caved in to the Home Secretary without a fight and agreed to destroy Cumbria Police by amalgamating it with much larger metropolitan forces.

"All along in this process Cumbria Police have taken the lead in co-operating with the government on amalgamation and the Police Authority has followed meekly behind.

"Now, I, as a former Police Minister and stalwart supporter of the police, am forced to come to the same conclusion which many of my constituents have put to me, that they can no longer trust Cumbria Police to be the champions of our Cumbrian community and people and that they have sold us out."

Cumbria is the second largest county in England by area and while its population is just under half a million, it attracts more than 23 million visitors each year.

A recent poll of 1,000 people in the county revealed 72% were satisfied with the local policing provided.

A review team within the Cumbria force said it prefered a merger with the Lancashire and Merseyside forces.

But deputy chief constable Christine Twigg added: "It is far too early to identify any future structures.

"However, the interests of our own staff, both police officers and police staff, are paramount in the coming debate."