THE North-East's police helicopter has become a world leader after clocking up 4,000 flying hours.

The EC135 Eurocopter, based at Newcastle Airport, is fleet leader among 220 Eurocopters worldwide.

Since entering service in April 1999 with the North-East Air Support Unit (NEASU) and hitting the milestone, it has performed 11,607 tasks and been involved in 1,883 arrests and the recovery of £1.4m-worth of property.

Together with an Islander plane, based at Teesside Airport, it serves about 2.6million people in the Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland force areas.

It is on 24-hour standby and has advanced equipment, including a searchlight, thermal imager and mapping system that can focus down to house level.

Nigel Dunnill, who manages the unit's operations, said: "The helicopter is a first-class machine and has been extremely reliable.

"The amount of hours it has done with very little breakdown, shows it was an excellent choice.''

The NEASU helps with searches and escorts, surveys major incidents or disorder, and provides aerial photographs and video.

It can also transport specialist units or casualties in need of urgent medical help.

Chief Superintendent Bob Pattison, of the operational support department, said: "I don't think anyone would want to see it go now, it has been so successful.

"We are, of course, conscious of the effect flying above residential areas has on the general public and we always aim to minimise the disruption."