A CANINE flying squad took to the skies this week as part of its police training programme.

The exercise is part of a demanding training programme for four German Shepherd dogs from Durham Police Constabulary.

It was planned to airlift Jack, Jagger, Dan and half-brother Odie from their kennels at Harperley Hall, Crook, to prove to their handlers that they had a head for heights.

Unfortunately, only one of the four-year-old dogs managed to make it into the air before the police helicopter was called off on duty.

The other three dogs will experience the airlift at a later date.

The idea behind the exercise is to make sure the dogs will remain calm if are airlifted by helicopter to an incident.

Paul Hedges, Durham Police Constabulary's dog training supervisor, said: "It is sometimes necessary to move the dogs and their handlers by air during police operations, particularly when they are covering rough terrain.

"We need to know in advance that the dogs will not adversely react to the noise of the helicopter and the unfamiliar sensation of flight.''