West Yorkshire Police could stay independent after the Government agreed to more talks with police authorities on plans to create new "super-forces".

Home Secretary Charles Clarke asked the police service for proposals for strategic regional forces after a report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary which suggested reducing the number of forces and creating larger ones to tackle terrorism and drugs and people trafficking.

West Yorkshire Police Authority told the Home Office it wanted to remain independent. But last month it was informed that was not suitable and was given the options of merging with North Yorkshire Police or forming a single regional strategic force with the North and South Yorkshire and Humberside forces.

The authority, along with police authorities across the UK, was given until December 23 to submit details of the costing and structure of its preferred choice.

But the authorities decided to refuse to submit their final business costs for the merger options by the deadline until they received assurances about costs, precepts, how the forces would be governed and their accountability.

Authority chairman Mark Burns-Williamson, who is also on the executive of the Association of Police Authorities, revealed that remaining an independent force was back on the agenda.

Coun Burns-Williamson said he and a group of West Yorkshire MPs had met Mr Clarke and Home Office Minister Hazel Blears and been given an undertaking that "we are in order to still work up the West Yorkshire option".

He said it was one of two or three options the authority would be submitting before the December 23 deadline.

He said: "We feel West Yorkshire is already a strategic force and meets the criteria. That will be one of the submissions and still the preferred option. Whatever we submit will be subject to further work.

"We are not in a position to agree the final business case. If the Government sees sense it will recognise a further period of consultation and more detailed work is required, perhaps to the end of January. If not, they may have to impose what they want by statute which would mean a delay of four months."

The issue will be discussed at a police authority meeting tomorrow.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The Home Secretary has not made any final decision on restructuring or force mergers. We expect police authorities to submit their proposals by December 23, but the Home Secretary has agreed that consultation may continue after this date."