diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/Region.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/Region.java
index e44026cde2..71dd31403b 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/Region.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/Region.java
@@ -62,7 +62,16 @@ public class Region
         this(region.row_from, region.col_from, region.row_to, region.col_to);
     }
 
-    /**
+    public Region(String ref) {
+    	CellReference cellReferenceFrom = new CellReference(ref.substring(0, ref.indexOf(":")));
+    	CellReference cellReferenceTo = new CellReference(ref.substring(ref.indexOf(":") + 1));
+    	this.rowFrom = cellReferenceFrom.getRow();
+    	this.colFrom = (short) cellReferenceFrom.getCol();
+    	this.rowTo = cellReferenceTo.getRow();
+    	this.colTo = (short) cellReferenceTo.getCol();
+	}
+
+	/**
      * get the upper left hand corner column number
      *
      * @return column number for the upper left hand corner
diff --git a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/XSSFSheet.java b/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/XSSFSheet.java
index 96ffe3c03a..08d42db6cd 100644
--- a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/XSSFSheet.java
+++ b/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/XSSFSheet.java
@@ -458,13 +458,12 @@ public class XSSFSheet implements Sheet {
 	}
 
     public Region getMergedRegionAt(int index) {
-        // TODO Auto-generated method stub
-        return null;
+    	CTMergeCell ctMergeCell = getMergedCells().getMergeCellArray(index);
+    	return new Region(ctMergeCell.getRef());
     }
 
     public int getNumMergedRegions() {
-        // TODO Auto-generated method stub
-        return 0;
+    	return getMergedCells().sizeOfMergeCellArray();
     }
     
     public int getNumHyperlinks() {
@@ -990,13 +989,18 @@ public class XSSFSheet implements Sheet {
 	}
 
 	private void addNewMergeCell(Region region) {
-    	if (ctMergeCells == null) {
-    		ctMergeCells = worksheet.addNewMergeCells();
-    	}
+    	ctMergeCells = getMergedCells();
     	CTMergeCell ctMergeCell = ctMergeCells.addNewMergeCell();
     	ctMergeCell.setRef(region.getRegionRef());
 	}
 
+	private CTMergeCells getMergedCells() {
+		if (ctMergeCells == null) {
+			ctMergeCells = worksheet.addNewMergeCells();
+    	}
+		return ctMergeCells;
+	}
+
 	private CTPageSetUpPr getSheetTypePageSetUpPr() {
     	if (getSheetTypeSheetPr().getPageSetUpPr() == null) {
     		getSheetTypeSheetPr().setPageSetUpPr(CTPageSetUpPr.Factory.newInstance());
diff --git a/src/ooxml/testcases/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/TestXSSFSheet.java b/src/ooxml/testcases/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/TestXSSFSheet.java
index e92d5d0657..a89b14cc6b 100644
--- a/src/ooxml/testcases/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/TestXSSFSheet.java
+++ b/src/ooxml/testcases/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/TestXSSFSheet.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Cell;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Row;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Sheet;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Workbook;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 import org.apache.poi.xssf.model.CommentsTable;
 import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.helpers.ColumnHelper;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.spreadsheetml.x2006.main.CTCol;
@@ -548,6 +549,27 @@ public class TestXSSFSheet extends TestCase {
     	assertEquals(STPane.BOTTOM_RIGHT, ctWorksheet.getSheetViews().getSheetViewArray(0).getPane().getActivePane());
     }
     
+    public void testNewMergedRegionAt() {
+    	Workbook workbook = new XSSFWorkbook();
+    	CTSheet ctSheet = CTSheet.Factory.newInstance();
+    	CTWorksheet ctWorksheet = CTWorksheet.Factory.newInstance();
+    	XSSFSheet sheet = new XSSFSheet(ctSheet, ctWorksheet, (XSSFWorkbook) workbook);
+    	Region region = new Region("B2:D4");
+    	sheet.addMergedRegion(region);
+    	assertEquals("B2:D4", sheet.getMergedRegionAt(0).getRegionRef());
+    }
+    
+    public void testGetNumMergedRegions() {
+    	Workbook workbook = new XSSFWorkbook();
+    	CTSheet ctSheet = CTSheet.Factory.newInstance();
+    	CTWorksheet ctWorksheet = CTWorksheet.Factory.newInstance();
+    	XSSFSheet sheet = new XSSFSheet(ctSheet, ctWorksheet, (XSSFWorkbook) workbook);
+    	assertEquals(0, sheet.getNumMergedRegions());
+    	Region region = new Region("B2:D4");
+    	sheet.addMergedRegion(region);
+    	assertEquals(1, sheet.getNumMergedRegions());
+    }
+    
 
 	private XSSFSheet createSheet(XSSFWorkbook workbook, String name) {
         XSSFSheet sheet = (XSSFSheet) workbook.createSheet(name);
diff --git a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/TestRegion.java b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/TestRegion.java
index 8cd620d38c..e05b072c34 100644
--- a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/TestRegion.java
+++ b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/TestRegion.java
@@ -46,4 +46,10 @@ public class TestRegion extends TestCase {
 		assertFalse(region.contains(9, (short) 10));
 	}
 	
+	public void testConstructors() {
+		Region region_1 = new Region("A1:E7");
+		assertEquals(0, region_1.getColumnFrom());
+		assertEquals((short)4, region_1.getColumnTo());
+	}
+	
 }