A CARPET dealer is helping police to pull the rug from under thieves - by keeping experts on the road.

A specialist team of police officers from the North Yorkshire force's Eastern area has taken delivery of a Vauxhall Astra, sponsored by Calverts Carpets, of Thirsk.

The team will use the car to travel and give crime reduction advice to individuals and businesses across the area.

PC Colin Musgrave, area architectural liaison officer, said: This will greatly aid my work in providing advice and guidance to business and local authorities, enabling them to build in anti-criminal measures when planning new buildings."

The car has a duel fuel engine and Northern Energy Auto Gas has donated three years' worth of liquid petroleum gas to power it. It is the first North Yorkshire Police car to be powered by gas