UP to 174 police jobs could be lost across Cheshire if a controversial merger with Merseyside ever gets the go ahead.

That's the latest warning from Cheshire Police Authority, which is worried about the impact of potential redundancies, which will be mainly found among support staff roles.

Home Office estimates had originally predicted 61 positions would be lost if the Cheshire and Mersey forces are combined, based on running cost savings.

But Cheshire Police have pointed out that their running costs are already low and the new combined constabulary would need to scrap 174 posts, under the merger's terms.

This could create an extra £6million headache for a new Cheshire/Merseyside police squad, as redundancy terms would need to be reached with 100-plus more workers.

Each main town centre station in Cheshire would be expected to make job cuts.

Another £2million would need to be found for senior police officers pension payouts - possibly including Chf Con Peter Fahy and his deputies like Graeme Gerrard - as the newly-created force's command team would only have limited vacancies.

Work would also have to be done to equalise pay packages between the two forces, including a wholesale regrading exercise.

While the Home Office insist the cost of this will be £6.3million, and can be phased in and absorbed into police budgets within three years, Cheshire are adamant pay deals will cost £2million in every following year.

Question marks still remain over how Council Tax rates across Cheshire will be affected by the merger process.

The average Council Tax police precept - for Band D properties - is £101 in Cheshire and £128 on Merseyside.

It is anticipated that Council Tax payments in Cheshire will need to rise to accommodate this.

But local councils are ordered by Whitehall to remain within strict five per cent increase levels when setting Council Tax levels, so such an increase might not be feasible.

Police authority chiefs in Cheshire claim this could result in the new combined police force losing £7million in funds.

Members of the police authority are using each of these financial factors to boost their case for opposing the merger, which will now not take place next April, Home Secretary John Reid earlier this month.