A VOLUNTEER police officer has won an award for his idea to boost the part-time thin blue line.

Assistant Divisional Officer David Carr received Durham Constabulary's Jim Anderson Trophy for the force's outstanding Special Constable.

Mr Carr, of the Chester-le-Street and Durham division, thought up a recruitment drive to attract more Specials.

He teamed up with students on the BTec art, design and media course at New College Durham, who designed a recruitment video and posters.

The division now has about 40 part-time officers, the highest number in the force's six divisions.

In the award citation, Chief Constable George Hedges said Mr Carr was instrumental in getting the project off the ground. "Whereas a number of people were involved overall in this project, there is wide acceptance that ADO Carr was the inspiration and the leader throughout."

Mr Carr, 29, the marketing manager of a Teesside company, has a post-graduate diploma in marketing and has been a Special since February 1998.

He said: "I'm a Special through and through, and fully committed to the job. But I didn't know I'd been put forward for the award so it was a bit of a shock to hear I had won. It was a nice surprise though.''

l He will help man a stand promoting the Specials in Durham's Milburngate Centre on December 8 and 15.