Only four candidates will now be interviewed by the Policing Board next week after Merseyside chief Bernard Hogan Howe withdrew from the recruitment contest.

Sir Hugh announced earlier this year that he would be stepping down from his current role to take up the post of president at the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo).

The remaining hopefuls are Ulster-born head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) Jim Gamble; Leicestershire police chief Matt Baggott, Durham chief constable Jon Stoddart and head of West Mercia police Paul West.

Mr Hogan Howe is now tipped to take up a position at Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.

The interview panel for next week's interviews will consist of Policing Board chairman Barry Gilligan, vice chair Brian Rea, independent member Rosaleen Moore and MLAs Leslie Cree (UUP), Dolores Kelly (SDLP), Alex Maskey (Sinn Fein) and Ian Paisley jnr (DUP).

Their appointment will then be ratified by the Secretary of State Shaun Woodward.