The proposed merger between Warwick and Statford-on-Avon District Councils has collapsed after 'irreconcilable' differences emerged between the two authorities.

Last December both councils voted overwhelmingly in favour of forming a new 'super council' for south Warwickshire.

And a formal request to the Secretary of State Michael Gove requesting that the councils be merged was submitted later that month with a response expected this May.

However, the leader of SDC, Cllr Tony Jefferson, wrote to Mr Gove last week requesting that the answer be delayed as his council wanted to carry out more due diligence on WDC's housing company Milverton Homes.

Cllr Jefferson said that if Mr Gove gave an answer too early it would not give chance for Stratford to pull out of the deal if needed.

But leader of WDC Cllr Andrew Day said he thought neighbours Stratford had already made up their minds.

"I considered that the decision to merge had already been made last December and that ongoing due diligence did not prevent service integration progressing as planned," he said announcing the collapse at tonight's WDC cabinet meeting.

"To ask government to delay matters would create further uncertainty for all our staff, especially those facing redundancy. And of course those seeking assurance about local services.

"In my opinion making request for further delay would result in trust being undermined, making it untenable for the two authorities to further integrate services and therefore to merge."

Adding: "We jointly agreed that the proposed merger cannot therefore go ahead as anticipated.

"There is a significant difference between the approaches and ambitions of the two councils that has proved to be irreconcilable and this means that a joint request - subject of course to our council approval - will now be made to government to stop the merger process."

The council leaders posed for a photo op at the Longbridge Roundabout after submitted the request to government in December

A full Warwick District Council meeting in May will now discuss the collapse and decide whether to withdraw from the agreement.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council will call an extraordinary meeting to do the same.

But with the two councils having agreed to share a number of services, including the new three-weekly bin collections, it is currently unclear what changes will be halted or reversed.

Cllr Day added: "This is a disappointing outcome but it should not mean an end to the positives that this process has generated.

"We have learned a lot and wish to carry on as good partners.

"It is anticipated that some of the joint working arrangements already put in place will continue, such as joint legal services and business rates collection. However, others including the joint management team and the services integration programme will end."

Despite the merger falling through Cllr Day said the council had in fact saved over £1million in the last year and had not "squandered money pursuing this".