The figure - enough to pay the salaries of 45 junior police officers - was spent on consultations, meetings, literature and staff.

Now representatives from across the region want to recoup the cost.

Police minister Tony McNulty will visit Nottingham next month to discuss the issue with force representatives.

'Waste of money'

The idea - to create a modern super regional force - was conceived by former Home Secretary Charles Clarke.

Newark MP and Conservative security spokesman Patrick Mercer said: "In Newark, we've already spent money sorting out a building for a new headquarters and liaison centre for the new East Midlands police force, which is going to be wasted.

Northamptonshire - �86,000 Leicestershire - �104,000 Nottinghamshire - �128,000. Lincolnshire - �286,000 Derbyshire - �298,000

"If I was on the Police Authority I'd be saying there's a hundred and thirty odd thousand pounds that I could use for extra bobbies - that's two-and-a-half to three extra police officers. And we need those men and women desperately."

But the chairman of Nottinghamshire Police Authority John Clarke said: "We've got a team working on that, to collaborate more and I think that at the end of the day it'll be proven that although it's a lot of money it will have been well spent."