POLICE dogs in North Yorkshire will soon be moving from their draughty old home into warm and modern kennels.

The county's Police Authority is to release thousands of pounds to replace ageing lean-to wooden buildings now in use.

The money will help create a home and exercise area for up to 20 dogs, close to the force headquarters, at Newby Wiske, near Northallerton.

All police dogs will soon benefit from the building which will house new arrivals, be used for training purposes and as a temporary home when handlers are away.

Kennel manager Mick Gill said Chief Constable Della Cannings had been a "driving force" in pushing through the modernisation, since a routine visit late last year.

He said: "They are working dogs but they get the very best standards of care, the best veterinary treatment and the best food. So now they will have the best kennels."

A spokesman for the authority said the amount of money set aside for the kennels was commercially sensitive as businesses were being invited to tender for the work.

Each trained police dog is a resource worth between £5,000 and £6,000 and the force has up to 35 dogs at any one time.