THE path was cleared for Merseyside Police to receive a huge influx of 50,000-volt stun guns last night.

The Home Office announced the force has been given cash for another 365 Tasers.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith gave Merseyside the second- highest cash allocation from an £8m nationwide fund. Only the West Midlands could get more.

Last night, front-line and senior officers welcomed the news, but the Police Federation urged the force to roll out the devices further.

Tasers shock and temporarily paralyse subjects, causing them to collapse or freeze. The Government claims the weapons are “safer for the police and the public”.

It added that, when officers have faced the “real possibility” of someone being seriously injured or killed, Tasers have contributed to resolving the situation without injury.

Merseyside’s branch of the Police Federation wants 24-hour access to Tasers for all beat officers. In a trial last year, only highly-trained officers used them.

But branch secretary Ian Leyland said Northumberland Police recorded a drop in physical assaults on its officers during a wider trial.