THE police hunt for runaway lovers Matthew Brooks and Naomi Mills has cost thousands of pounds.

The Northern Constabulary has revealed the hunt for the pair in Scotland has cost the force £13,000.

But West Mercia Police, for whom Matthew used to work, have declined to disclose the cost to the taxpayer of their search.

But the two forces have ruled out passing on any of the costs to the duo who stand to make around £100,000 for their story.

Former policeman Matthew, aged 22, and Naomi, 15, sparked a four-day nationwide hunt after they fled to Scotland in February.

Police stepped up the search and carried out door-to-door inquiries after their car, a Vauxhall Astra cabriolet, was found partially submerged on a causeway near the Kyle of Tongue, north Scotland.

Officers from the Northern Constabulary, which covers the area, drafted in a helicopter to carry out a sea search and dog handlers scoured undergrowth.

However, it was a journalist from the Glasgow Herald who spotted the pair on a Highland road and tipped-off police.

Now Northern Constabulary says it will pick up the £13,000 tab for its share of the search which took 400 police man hours.

"We will be paying for this and would not expect any contribution from the couple because we are a public service," said Elayne Grimes, Northern Constabulary spokesman.

Matthew and Naomi, who is now 16, have spoken to the Daily Mail, Sunday Mirror and have also signed up to do an interview with ITV's Tonight show with Sir Trevor McDonald, in a programme to be broadcast within the next month.

In the interviews, the couple have spoken about why they fled Worcester and also about their desire to marry.