A SECOND police helicopter is being commissioned to replace an Islander aeroplane based at Teesside Airport

The Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland forces put in a bid for Government funding for the project and have now been given the official go-ahead.

Including the grant from the Home Office, the total cost of putting the new helicopter in the skies will be in the region of £3.7m.

It would work with a Eurocopter which flies from Newcastle.

Nigel Dunnill, manager of the North-East Air Support Unit, said: "Modern helicopters generate less noise than the current fixed wing aircraft, so the quality of life for residents will be improved.

"The Islander crews continue to give very good service, but we have proved that with a modern helicopter of the type we have used since 1999, the service is more effective.

"Helicopters carry more tools such as a searchlight, public address and lifesaving equipment and have the advantage of being able to take off and land almost anywhere to assist the police, other emergency services and the public."

Even with Home Office backing, it will be some time before the new craft goes operational, as the process of installing equipment for police work, such as infra-red cameras, is a lengthy one.

A new radio system is also being developed for emergency services aircraft. But if all goes smoothly the second "chopper" could be in action by the spring of next year.

Five Durham officers are among the 20 constables and two sergeants seconded to the unit. A separate contract with an aviation company provides the pilots needed to fly the two aircraft.

Chief Insp Ken Cook said: "The air support unit is a tremendous resource but we in Durham have tended to use it less than our colleagues in Northumbria and Cleveland.

"The plane and the helicopter have shown time and time again how valuable they can be at a huge variety of incidents. Weather permitting they are available round-the-clock and can be on the scene within minutes."