FORMER cop Bill Longmore has been elected as Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Mercia force.

Independent candidate Mr Longmore Built a successful manufacturing business after his retirement from Staffordshire Police in 1986 after 30 year's service.

He was elected from a turnout of 14,5 per cent of West Mercia's voters on a pledge not to be "a faceless man sitting in an office".

West Mercia Chief Constable Shaw said: "On behalf of the whole workforce at West Mercia Police, we are very much looking forward to working with Mr Longmore.

"Mr Longmore is already aware of the policing challenges West Mercia faces and I will be discussing these with him in greater detail when he takes up his role on Thursday, 22 November."