WEST Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner Bill Longmore said he feared his 'life would be cut short' after he was diagnosed with lung cancer in November last year.

Mr Longmore, who has been in the role since November 2012, said that despite feeling 'fit and healthy' he went for a medical check up with his GP before Christmas which revealed the cancer.

He began treatment this week and in a statement Mr Longmore said he hopes to be back in full-time work in March this year.

Until then his deputy, Barrie Sheldon, will stand in for him.

For more on this story, see this week's Hereford Times, out on Thursday.