The Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire Police Dogs Unit has a new recruit.

Springer spaniel Dizzie is bounding into action across the three counties after completing a 10-week long course in the West Midlands, and receiving his licence as an explosive search detection dog.

Supt Mark Greenhalgh from BCH Joint Protective Services said: “Dizzie and his handler should be very proud of their achievement in successfully completing this course.

“It was both challenging and demanding, but very rewarding.

“Their training isn’t in response to any specific threat in any of the three counties, but bolsters the dog unit’s skill base and operational capability to assist officers around the forces and ultimately help further protect members of the public.”

Dizzie has also been acclimatised to flying in police helicopters, should he need to be deployed quickly around the region.