POLICE and crime commissioner Bill Longmore has starred in his own YouTube video as he bravely fights back from cancer.

The elected force figurehead, who was diagnosed with throat cancer during a routine doctor's check last November, used the broadcast to tell viewers it is still "business as usual" for West Mercia Police.

Since finding out he had the disease Mr Longmore endured surgery in January, which was a success, and been taking time away from full-time duties to recover.

The 75-year-old is now planning to return to work properly this month after letting deputy Barrie Sheldon take the lead role over the winter.

Mr Longmore says the wonders of modern technology has allowed him to stay in touch with the force more than he first thought as he battled his health problems.

In the video, he said: "People think as soon as someone's got cancer they are immediately incapacitated and can't do anything, but that's not the case.

"At no time have I been out of touch with the office and I've got a very able deputy who's kept me informed with anything that's been going on.

"Any discussions that needed to be made, we've discussed it and I've made the decision.

"I've had all the technology to keep in touch with the office and with Skype I've been able to have regular meetings with the chief constable.

"I've also been continuously kept up to date with literature, we get quite a bit of that and I've been able to read it in the comfort of my own home."

In the broadcast he also revealed that he went on an outing in February, spending time in Hereford to examine city centre policing and visit a care home.

He said: "I'm keeping myself fully informed of everything that's happened - all in all it's business as usual."

Surgeons performed the operation on Mr Longmore at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in mid-January.

After his ordeal Mr Sheldon went onto Twitter to say his boss felt "very groggy" afterwards.

The retired businessman, who was elected in 2012, is now determined to stay in office until the next set of commissioner elections in 2016, as long as he remains healthy.

To see the YouTube video visit westmercia-pcc.gov.uk/YouTube-Video/PCCs-YouTube-Channel.aspx