SPECIAL constables will be out and about across the county on Saturday and Sunday as part of National Special Constabulary weekend.

The event is designed to increase public awareness of the role of the special constables and to encourage people to join up.

On Saturday, officers will patrol Malton and the surrounding villages, Stokesley, Great Ayton and Northallerton, where they will be targeting anti-social behaviour.

Specials will also staff the mobile police station in Scarborough town centre, as part of a recruiting drive, before going out on patrol.

On Sunday, specials will be recruiting from the mobile police station in Malton, while in Stokesley and Northallerton they will be executing warrants for non-payment of fines and breaches of bail.

In York on Saturday, special constables will carry out foot and mobile patrols between 4pm and midnight, to provide a visible presence and respond to incidents when appropriate.

On Sunday, specials will be recruiting at the Monks Cross shopping centre between 10am and 4pm and patrolling both Monks Cross and Clifton Moor.

In Knaresborough, specials will be recruiting from the mobile police station on Saturday. On Sunday, they will be out on patrol.

Also in Harrogate, a team of specials will be dealing with warrants for people who failed to appear in court. The mobile police station will be used for recruiting in Richmond.