TORY leader, David Cameron, backed Wyre Forest residents' protests against the Government's controversial police merger plans during a visit to Kidderminster last week.

The 39-year-old was handed a petition signed by more than 1,850 people from the district appealing for West Mercia Constabulary to be able to keep its independence.

It is hoped a further 2,500 names will be added before Wyre Forest Conservative representatives make the trip to Westminster and hand it over to Shadow Home Secretary, David Davies, in an attempt to exert pressure on his counterpart, Cabinet member, Charles Clarke.

Mr Cameron, who visited the Oldington and Foley Park Network recycling centre last Thursday, said the Government was "going in entirely the wrong direction" with plans to amalgamate West Mercia with the three other West Midlands forces.

He added: "I know how strongly people feel against this. It is a good and popular force. The Government has completely got the wrong end of the stick.

"What they are creating are big regional bureaucratic forces that will be more remote and distant. What people want are local forces that are accountable."

West Mercia Police Authority voted unanimously last week to continue its opposition and members claimed they were still waiting for answers from the Home Secretary on how the estimated £57 million set-up costs of amalgamation would be financed.

The Conservative leader heaped praise on the Ricketts Close centre during a tour of the operation, which recycles electrical items and furniture to sell on back to the public.

He said: "I am really impressed by what I have seen. We have become too much of a throwaway society and we have got to look at ways of reusing things. The Network is fulfilling so many functions and is a genuine social enterprise."

Graeme Silk, the reuse centre manager at the Firs Industrial Estate site, stressed the facility "was not in any danger of closing", despite funding concerns because of the Government's delay in implementing part of the European Union's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

The legislation, which was postponed for a second time last December, would make companies liable for the "end of life costs" for their items and generate income for charity recycling projects.

Mr Silk added: "It is fair to say that funds are tight but we are diversifying to help finance the project in the future.

"We want to remain positive and would like to stress we want more people to donate items and get involved."