FOUR new Special Constables are set to patrol the streets of Kidderminster.

Raymond Callaghan, Ryan Cockram, Vanessa Code and Hazel Price were sworn in during a ceremony at West Mercia Constabulary's headquarters in Worcester.

The new recruits - uniformed volunteers - were welcomed by Assistant Chief Constable Ian Arundale and senior officers in the presence of magistrates and the new officers' families.

Chris Cookson, Commandant of the force's D Division, said: "We look forward to these new officers joining our team on the streets of north Worcestershire.

"They will be a valuable asset to the police and the wider community. Specials carry out a variety of duties, from foot patrols to targeted mobile patrols.

"We are currently looking at quality of life issues, such as anti-social behaviour, but we get involved in pretty well everything our regular officer colleagues do."

West Mercia, meanwhile, has had to close its recruitment line for officers, having received more than 1,600 requests in just 21 days for application packs to become a police officer.

The force's Be Somebody campaign was launched with the aim of recruiting 150 new full-time officers and 75 Specials.

Sgt Jane Gilkes, of West Mercia's positive action team, said: "We are delighted by the response we have received.

"Our message that the police service offers a rewarding, structured career with great opportunities for personal development has generated a lot of interest.

"This year, we have made a determined effort to promote ourselves to women and minority ethnic communities living in West Mercia. This has paid great dividends, with applications from these groups increasing encouragingly.

"Our intention is to continue to raise our profile with our key target groups in the months ahead."

Despite the closure of the dedicated line, application forms can still be downloaded from the national police recruitment website - www.policecouldyou.co.uk - but must be completed and returned to West Mercia by the closing date of Saturday, April 30.