FOUR-LEGGED crimefighters will be showing off their skills in a special display tomorrow.

German Shepherds from Northumbria Police will perform for a group of disabled youngsters from The Prince's Trust in Ashington, Northumberland.

Six youngsters with learning disabilities, aged between nine and 13, will visit the Dog Section's training unit at force headquarters in Ponteland for the one-hour display.

The dogs will carry out agility and obedience work as well as showing how they apprehend suspects.

The youngsters will also get the chance to meet Bouncer, a rescue dog who became the organisation's first-ever Passive Alert Narcotics Detection Dog.

Dog Section training sergeant Glen Bland said: "We find that when we put on these displays, the children get a real buzz out of it.

"They find the displays fun and there's a real affection between them and the animals.

"It's actually a measure of how well-trained the dogs are that one moment they can be demonstrating their skills and the next being placid around youngsters.

"However, they have to be like that because all the dogs are integrated into the handler's homes as well as being an efficient resource on the streets."