THE Tory leadership favourite, David Cameron, has pledged to fight for the independence of West Mercia Constabulary.

The young Shadow Education Secretary is expected to be elected as the next leader of the opposition within weeks.

His opposition to a regional super-force covering the entire West Midlands is a major boost to West Mercia Chief Constable Paul West.

Mr West confronted Fiona Mactaggart, Home Office Minister, in a Westminster caf this week about the proposals. He is fighting a rearguard action over moves to merge his force, the best performing in the country, with the region's three others.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke last week ruled out the possibility of West Mercia remaining in its current form.

He said that it must merge with at least Staffordshire, and possibly West Midlands and Warwickshire as well.

But Mr Cameron set his face against the proposals yesterday. He said: "West Mercia force has a good record and the case for a regional force simply has not been made. What people want to see is more local policing not remote new forces."

West Mercia MPs have welcomed the support of the Tory leader-in-waiting.

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff said: "David's been calling for more local policing and more accountability of police forces to the people they serve. The Government's got this one profoundly wrong." West Mercia chiefs have been ordered to choose their preferred merger arrangements by the end of December.

All of the other West Midlands forces are calling for a massive 13,000-officer force covering the entire region.

The moves follow a report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary which found that forces with fewer than 4,000 officers were no longer "fit for purpose".

West Mercia has 2,400 officers. A PENSIONER launched a legal bid to use the 1689 Bill of Rights to overturn a parking ticket yesterday.

But no one representing Worcester City Council turned up to the hearing at the Fownes Hotel in Worcester - despite being a key player in the case.

Robin De Crittenden attended a city tribunal to appeal against a parking fine set by the council two years ago. He used the ancient 1689 Bill of Rights as his defence, arguing that it was illegal to fine somebody without a court finding them guilty first.

It is thought that if he won his case all parking fines since the Road Traffic Act of 1991 could be declared null and void.

The 67-year-old from Willenhall, Wolverham-pton, yesterday gave his case to an independent representative of the National Parking Adjudication Serv-ice, Andrew Prickett.

During a break in proceedings he said: "I think it is very encouraging so far.

"This is not just about a parking ticket it is about so much more. I want to challenge MPs who are no longer representing the people. They must obey a law that regulates Parliament itself.

"It is a shame Worcester City Council ran away and wouldn't hear and answer the many questions I have to put to its representatives."

Mr De Crittenden also suggested the tribunal was not powerful enough to judge his argument and criticised the conduct of members of NPAS and the body's credibility.

But Mr Prickett said during the hearing: "I will not, at this time, stand down from this tribunal. I will hear all you have to say.

"But if you succeed in your appeal, your argument would mean that the Queen herself could be in jeopardy, as she would have had no right to the throne for a number of years."

Dozens of interested parties from around the country turned up to hear the arguments including members of the Freedom Association and campaign group the Metric Martyrs.

A supporter of Mr De Crittenden, John Gardner from the British Weights And Measures Association, which believes the outcome of the case could affect laws that restrict the use pounds and ounces, added: "We are here as this tribunal could have major implications for the constitutional law of this country.

"This case it too big for an administration service like NPAS and we are backing Robin to go all the way."

NPAS ajudicator Andrew Prickett reserved judgement and is expected to notify the parties of his finding later this month.

A spokesman for the city council said the argument was out of its hands and that it would await the outcome, but declined to comment further.