Ditched plans to merge Sussex and Surrey police have cost £1 million - the equivalent of a year's salary for 50 constables.

Peter Jones, chairman of Sussex Police Authority, condemned the Government for wasting time on the "bloody stupid" plans which could have been spent on frontline policing.

His comments followed confirmation by Home Office minister Tony McNulty that "forced" mergers would not go ahead.

The decision to abandon the mergers plan represents a major U-turn for the Government.

Ministers had argued that reducing the country's police forces from 43 to 17 was essential to tackling terrorism, organised crime and drug-running.

But the plans were opposed by both Sussex and Surrey police authorities and Tory MPs amid fears that more than 500 Sussex officers could lose their jobs and council tax precepts could rise.

Councillor Jones told The Argus that preparations for the merger had cost the Sussex force about £1 million.

He said: "It was an incredible expense and the money could have gone on frontline policing."

He said the merger proposal was a "panic reaction" to last July's London bombings and had "diverted efforts from tackling pressing day-to-day issues" for over nine months.

Nick Herbert, Tory MP for Arundel and South Downs said: "We should now focus on ways of strengthening the fight against crime."