BORO boss Graham Westley has bolstered his defensive options by snapping up former Hartlepool United captain Peter Hartley for an undisclosed five-figure sum.

The 25-year-old began his career at Sunderland making one appearance before joining his hometown club, Hartlepool.

Hartley, who was named the club’s Player of the Season in 2011/12, was appointed the north east side’s captain at the start of the last campaign.

He started Hartlepool’s first Sky Bet League 2 game of this season, a 3-0 defeat to Rochdale on Saturday, but was not part of the Pools line-up which was knocked out of the Capital One Cup 3-1 on Tuesday night by Nottingham Forest.