THREE Bury police officers are "taking the reins" at the largest horse event to be held in Britain.

Sergeant Karen Carmichael, PC Sally Biggar, and PC Lawrence Mitchell from the division's mounted unit, will join 17 colleagues from Greater Manchester who have been chosen to lead the British constabularies at this weekend's All the Queen's Horses event at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in London.

The Bury horses taking part are Donbey, Badger and Weller.

The equestrian extravaganza will feature 1,000 horses and is part of the celebrations for the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

GMP is one of 16 forces taking part in a massed musical ride. Around 70 mounted officers and horses, together with the Household Cavalry and a 20-piece mounted band, will be involved in the performance.

Chief Inspector Jeremy Pidd, head of the mounted branch, said: "There will be hoops of fire in the arena when we perform, so it is a big test for the horses. We have been putting the horses through their paces using smoke, music and crowd noise. I hope the practise pays off so that the horses put on a fantastic display during the three nights of the event." The show, which starts today (Fri May 17) is being billed as more "theatre" than horse show. The finale will recreate the 1953 Coronation procession with the inclusion of the Gold State Coach and eight horses which has not been seen since 1977.

A spokesman for the organisers said: "This show is of inimitable proportions bringing together a phenomenal 1,000 horses and 2,000 performers.

"We are delighted that officers and horses from Greater Manchester Police are taking part."

Greater Manchester Police has around 40 horses based at four stables around the county, including Bury, and is the largest provincial mounted unit.