FOUR senior police officers have been shortlisted to take over the hot seat from Greater Manchester's Chief Constable David Wilmot, who is retiring.

And the force could have its first ever Asian chief constable, Ghaffur Tarique, who served as a beat bobby in the region. The 46-year-old is currently an Assistant Commissioner in the Metropolitan Police where he is in charge of policing the city of Westminster and South London.

The three other candidates are: Colin Cramphorn, (45), deputy chief constable with the police service of Northern Ireland; Peter Fahy (42), deputy chief constable with Surrey police; Michael Todd (44), who is also an Assistant Commissioner in the Met.

The successful candidate will be announced at the end of March but he will not take over the post until October when Mr Wilmot formally retires.