West Yorkshire Police could become part of a huge new regional force under a massive Government reorganisation.

The Home Office today revealed that the force is being given just two options under the national restructuring programme.

Under the plans, West Yorkshire will be forced either to merge with North Yorkshire or to become part of a "super-force" including North and South Yorkshire as well as Humberside.

The force, and West Yorkshire Police Authority, have been given until the end of the month to choose between the two options.

They then have to submit details of the costing and structure of the new force to the Home Office by December 23.

But a senior member of the police authority today voiced fears that policing standards would suffer if the Government pushed through the proposal for a regional force.

Bradford Councillor Clive Richardson, deputy chairman of the authority, said he feared the Government had already made its decision to amalgamate all four regional forces.

"I believe it is sufficient for us to merge with North Yorkshire," he said. "I do not like the idea of a single regional force, but I believe the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would want us to have one regional force. I feel they've already decided what's going to happen."

Coun Richardson added: "I see greater costs without any improvements. You have to ensure there is no decrease in policing standards but unless the Government funds it properly, and they haven't in the past, standards will fall.

"I have a fear that the public will suffer. We are being rushed into this at breakneck speed, doing it on present legislation rather than debating it in Parliament and getting there properly."

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

Mr Clarke has said he wants the number of forces cut from 43 to between 20 and 25.

Police forces and authorities submitted their proposals to the Home Office last month, with the West Yorkshire authority giving its preferred option as staying as an independent force.

John Giffard, director of the Home Office's Police Structures Review Unit, has now written to the West Yorkshire Police Authority outlining the suitable options as a single regional strategic force, involving all four forces, or merging West Yorkshire with North Yorkshire and South Yorkshire with Humberside.

He states that West Yorkshire as a "standalone strategic force" was not a suitable option.

Mr Giffard said it was ultimately a matter for the police authority to determine which options should be proposed.

But he said: "I felt it was important to make clear where we are less convinced that it would be worth investing further resources into developing options. I would only want you to do so in the full knowledge that, on the basis of the evidence presented and our assessment of these options, it is unlikely that I would be minded to recommend them to the Home Secretary."

Coun Richardson claimed it was part of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's agenda for a regional assembly.

He said a merger with North Yorkshire Police would cost West Yorkshire taxpayers an extra £21 a year in police council tax precept "just to stand still."

Coun Richardson is meeting North Yorkshire colleagues next week to discuss ways forward.

Tom McGhie, West Yorkshire chairman of the Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said he was concerned a regional force could hit policing standards.

He said: "My concern is that we don't affect the level of service we currently give to the public of West Yorkshire.

"We are one of the most improved forces in the country, which is down to the hard work of our police officers, and we don't want to see those standards drop.

"But there is a fear that the service to the public will suffer because the way police are guided will be more difficult. Central control over a larger area is not always the best direction.

"Our big concern is that the public of West Yorkshire does not suffer as a consequence of any change."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said the force was looking at the information it had received from the Home Office. The force has liaised with neighbouring forces to consider all options.

The Home Office says creating regional forces is not just about merging existing forces, but would create new types providing a better service to the public.