LAST week Lancashire Police hired two new furry recruits with a heart-warming story behind them.

Vin and Pirate are a pair of Springer Spaniels who will be trained up by the force. The dogs, who are both boys, are 18 months old.

The dogs were bought in memory of Lavinia Cook, who was from Lower Darwen, and loved police dogs so much that she was planning on purchasing a pair for the force but sadly passed away in October before she could do so.

Her husband, Barry Cook, donated Vin and Pirate to the Dog Unit in memory of his wife. Vin is named after Lavinia.

Lancashire Police revealed that Barry attended the dogs first day of training.

Barry said: "My wife would be bursting with pride, she and I watched a lot of police programmes together as we've always admired the police dogs and their handlers and the work they do.

"Lavinia would be thrilled to know these dogs have been bought for our local force."