THE world of crime-fighting has never seen his like before.

With yellow tights, green shorts and a flowing green cape, he may sound like a cartoon superhero.

But this is PC Colin Hopkins, a former Middlesbrough and Hartlepool beat bobby, who was yesterday unveiled as Cleveland Police's latest weapon in the battle against crime.

The burly, 6ft tall constable has been persuaded by his senior officers to adopt the alter ego Flash Garden.

The "horticultural superhero" - his catchphrase is "prickly plants tear burglars' pants" - will patrol garden centres once a month.

As part of the force's Plants Against Crime initiative, the mission of the 48-year-old crime prevention officer is to promote plants that deter burglars.

"Prickly plants such as the berberis are nature's own barbed wire and when planted along a fence will be the ideal deterrent against intruders," says Flash Garden.

"Along with protecting your home with locks and alarms, remember your garden fence is your home's first defence. The last things a burglar wants is to find himself ripped to pieces by a dense and unforgiving prickly protector."

After being paraded to the media at Stranton Nurseries in Hartlepool, yesterday, the new look PC Hopkins said: "This is certainly the strangest and the funniest thing I have ever done.

"People can just walk past posters and billboards but if they see me dressed like this they are bound to stop.

"I hope this shows the police force have a sense of humour and I hope this campaign can do something to stop burglars.

"The idea came from the crime prevention panel and as the police officer on that panel I thought it was a great idea. Rather than just handing out leaflets to people, dressing up as Flash Garden seemed a much better idea.

"At least no one will forget me."

Detective Superintendent Mark Braithwaite said: "He's a really good sport and will do a great job as Flash Garden."

Passers-by looked amused but one little boy backed away from Flash with a concerned look on his face."