SEVENTEEN staff from railway company Arriva Trains Northern are to become special constables with the British Transport Police (BTP) tomorrow.

A swearing-in ceremony is taking place in York, which will be attended by the city's Lord Mayor, Councillor Charles Hall, and BTP Assistant Chief Constable Paul Nicholas.

The constables are the result of a recruitment campaign by Arriva, which hopes to improve rail security.

Before becoming a special constable, the 17 Arriva staff went through a rigorous recruitment process.

They received paid leave during the training and will be subsidised by Arriva for the equivalent of one full day per fortnight while on duty.

Dyan Crowther, commercial director at Arriva Trains Northern, said: "We believe that the specials will play an important role to the benefit of customers and employees."