MOUNTED officers based at Leigh have saddled-up to help rein-in street criminals across Greater Manchester, in Operation Hawk's latest bid to stamp out street crime.

Officers on horseback have 'mounted' this most recent drive to bring robbers and thieves to justice, by joining officers on patrol to target street crime 24 hours a day.

The four-legged crime fighters are being used as part of the high profile policing initiative, Operation Hawk, working alongside officers on

the beat to target hotspot areas during the day and throughout the night.

Both officers and horses wear high-visibility uniforms to reassure residents of their presence and ensure potential street criminals will not go un-noticed.

Chief Inspector Lynn Roby, Head of the Force's Mounted Unit, said: "Our mounted officers provide high visibility policing that helps to reassure residents that we are committed to fighting crime and protecting people.

"Reducing street crime is GMP's top priority and working together as a team with Operation Hawk officers enables us to target hotspot areas and make the streets of Greater Manchester safer".

Greater Manchester Police has the biggest provincial mounted unit and has horses and officers out on patrol every day with about 40 horses based at four stables around the county in Bury, Leigh, Chorlton,

Stretford.