WEST Mercia Police's new commissioner is facing calls to resign after county councillors published a 'no confidence' motion in him.

Worcestershire County Council's Labour group wants Bill Longmore to quit, along with his deputy Barrie Sheldon.

A full council meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, where the party will press for a vote of 'no confidence' in the duo.

Although it will not force the duo out, the group is hoping it causes Mr Longmore embarrassment over the appointment of his deputy.

It comes after Mr Longmore, a former officer at Staffordshire Police, hired his former campaign manager Mr Sheldon as his £50,000 deputy against the wishes of the watchdog-style Police and Crime Panel, which said he has not followed an "open and transparent" process.

Councillor Alan Amos, Labour group deputy leader, said: "It was an appalling decision."

A joint statement has been produced by the duo saying they are "disappointed" by the motion.

It states: "We would ask that people judge us on our achievements over the course of the next three and a half years and not in a period when we have only been in office for around two months."

As the Worcester News revealed today, 140 police officer jobs will be axed in the West Mercia force area by 2016.