HOME Secretary Theresa May has praised West Mercia Police for its 'alliance' with Warwickshire - as Worcester's MP led a rallying call to fund the force better.

Ms May says the deal between the two, hatched in 2013 in a drive to save £30 million, is an example for the rest of the UK to follow.

Her praise was made during a House of Commons debate during which Robin Walker insisted no police forces should be forced to fully merge.

He asked Ms May for her thoughts on the "bottom-up alliance" which has seen West Mercia's back office functions like IT, human resources, logistics and even front line operational vehicles brought together to save money, with around 661 jobs slashed.

She said: "I commend West Mercia for the steps it has taken.

"The work that it has done with the Warwickshire force is an example of how forces can retain an individual identity while getting the benefits of working together and collaboration.

"It is a very important example."

It comes as Mr Walker urges the Government to offer West Mercia Police a better funding deal, saying it is too reliant on council tax.

The warning comes ahead of the spending review by Chancellor George Osborne on Wednesday, November 25.

He told your Worcester News he feels the force is "under-funded" compared to regional neighbours like West Midlands Police, saying he's made his feelings known to ministers.

"We pay a higher proportion of our council tax towards funding our police force than almost any other part of the country," he said.

"If you look at the West Midlands its around 90 per cent grant money and 10 per cent council tax, here it's something like 65 per cent to 35 per cent, it's quite a significant difference.

"We do need reform of the police funding formula."

For the current financial year the force's budget is around £200 million, with around £76 million coming from council tax.

After the Commons debate Barrie Sheldon, the deputy police and crime commissioner, said: "The strategic alliance between the forces continues to grow and is going from strength to strength.

"It is setting the standard that other forces are now looking to follow, I'm pleased to see that work being acknowledged by our local MPs and the Home Secretary."

He added: "With regards funding, it is very difficult to compare the West Midlands force with West Mercia because they are very different in a number of ways. "Naturally, I would always want to secure the best possible deal for the people of West Mercia, and we'll continue to work for that."