A HUGE response to the national officer recruitment drive means Cleveland Police are having to turn away further applications.

Personnel chiefs say the Could You? campaign led to their department and the force website being inundated with hundreds of applications.

Recruitment staff said some applicants will have their forms returned to them. However, anyone keen to join the police can apply to become Police Community Support Officers to gain experience for the next time the force is recruiting.

The salary for a support officer is £15,000.