Council tax payers in Wales may face bill hikes to cover the costs of the abandoned police reorganisation, which would have seen one Wales-wide force created.

The four Welsh forces have sought almost £895,000 from the Home Office, but last week the government confirmed they would only make payment of just under £400,000. WLGA chief executive Steve Thomas said: ‘The police reorganisation was the biggest waste of time since England took to the field against the All Blacks at the weekend.'