A BOY whose father was killed in Afghanistan after he promised they would train a dog together has spent the day with Durham Police as a dog handler.

Brandon Campbell, 12, and his father Serjeant Steven Campbell had planned to buy a Labrador puppy when the soldier returned from Afghanistan.

But Sjt Campbell, of the Rifles Regiment, was killed by a Taliban bomb in 2010.

A family friend told Durham Police about Brandon and his dream to join the force and he was invited to the force’s North East Police Dog Training School, Spennymoor, County Durham.

Brandon and his mother Lisa, of Pelton, near to Chester-le-Street, County Durham, met serving police dogs and they were shown tracking and search techniques during the visit today.

A pupil at Park View School, Chester-le-Street, Brandon said: “I’ve really enjoyed the visit and I wish I could be a dog handler and I want to be a police officer.

“Dad promised that we were going to get a Labrador puppy before he went away with the Army and he said that we were going to train it together.

“We’re definitely going to get a Labrador puppy for home now and it’s going to be called Ozzy.”

Brandon took control of the police dogs as he put them through their paces during the visit.

Sjt Campbell, 30, was killed near Sangin, in Afghanistan, on March 22, 2010, when the quad bike he was using to pull a trailer of mortar and ammunition was blown up by Taliban insurgents.

Sergeant Sue Madsen, of the force’s dog section, said: “It seems Brandon is giving some thought to his future career and is keen on the idea of becoming a police dog handler.

“We are very happy for him to come along to the school and experience a little of what that role would entail.”