A FOUR-LEGGED friend is helping comfort a Police Interceptor's grieving family.

Smithy the Belgian Malinois puppy has been adopted by Durham Constabulary to honour PC Gavin Smith, who died of cancer in February.

The four-month-old pup has been named in memory of the Bishop Auckland PC, who served with Durham Constabulary for 12 years and worked with the roads policing unit based at Spennymoor, County Durham.

And he had a special visit from PC Smith's widow, Kezi Smith and daughter, Tilly, five, at Spennymoor Police Station today.

Mrs Smith, who is also a police officer, said Smithy had been a great comfort as the family grieve.

She said: "It's really nice to see the force are still thinking of us and honouring Gavin's memory.

"It's lovely having Smithy and it's nice for Tilly to have that link."

PC Smith was part of the TV Police Interceptors team, a new series of which starts on Channel 5 this evening.

Mrs Smith, 36, said Smithy was "something nice and positive to think about despite all the difficult times" and the family had been following the puppy's progress on social media as dog handler, PC Ian Squire, posts regular updates.

Smithy is currently being looked after by a couple of 'puppy walkers' until he is ready to start his official training next September, at 16 months old.

PC Squire said the force received Smithy when he was just seven weeks old and the team had immediately thought of honouring PC Smith by naming the new 'recruit' after him.

Mrs Smith, who bought a Labrador called Woody following her husband's death, added: "We are really touched because it's been a really difficult time, especially for Tilly, so just to have something like this is great and the force have been so good helping us through everything.

"These little touches really do make a big difference and certainly for Tilly when it's tough going."