ALL the nice girls love . . . a policeman?

A team of Durham bobbies have swapped jobs with crew members on the city's adopted warship the 20,000-tonne HMS Invincible, to experience life on the ocean wave.

Six officers boarded the Royal Navy aircraft carrier as it left its berth on the Tyne, North Shields yesterday, and ten sailors were left to get a taste of police work.

They will go on the beat in Durham, on traffic patrols and observe the work of scenes of crime specialists.

The exchange was organised by Chief Inspector Jamie McAloon, one of the six police on board, and Lieutenant Commander Phil Norman.

"This is a wonderful opportunity and one we are all looking forward to," said Chief Insp McAloon.

"The exchange will give us the chance to obtain an insight into how HMS Invincible conducts its operational business."

Also on board were Detective Inspector Andy Reddick, Sergeants Dave Tweddle and Gerry Finn, and PCs Graham Ling and Peter Tate.

The ship is due to undergo a refit, in Rosyth, Scotland, and is not expected to revisit the North-East for about two years.