AFTER a two-month absence from the small screen, familiar faces policing the North-East’s streets will make their TV return in a one-off special.

Cleveland and Durham traffic cops starring in popular policing programme, Police Interceptors, will bring the blues and twos back to Channel 5 for an hour-long drugs bust edition.

Film crews have followed the exciting day jobs of officers in the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit (CDSOU) to create three series of the show that came to an end two months ago.

The 12-part series covered high-speed pursuits around County Durham and Tees Valley, as well as thefts, armed raids, and drunken disputes.

A special programme following the region’s specially trained firearms officers and dog handlers is set to air next week, as CDSOU help to track down and arrest North-East drug dealers.

Radio DJ and Gadget Show presenter, Ortis Deley, spent one shift with the unit’s Sergeant Kev Salter and his team who spent hours dealing with dangerous drivers and street fights before joining to hunt to find a wanted man.

The special show, due to air on Monday, January 16, will also feature the unit’s sniffer dog, Lottie, as she takes part in one of her first major operations after completing her training only a short time beforehand.

Durham Police Road Policing Unit’s (RPU) Sgt Salter said: “It was a pleasure to give Ortis and the team an insight into what we do and the results you will see on screen across the entire episode were all filmed in the first four hours of one shift.

“The RPU is very proactive in tackling criminality and we love nothing more than getting great results.

“We know these will have a substantial impact on the organised crime groups in our areas and we hope this comes across in this episode.

“The public support has been overwhelming throughout our involvement with Police Interceptors and we are grateful for that continued support.

“We hope everyone enjoys the show on Monday.”

The drugs bust special episode will air at 8pm before being followed a week later by a second Police Interceptors special on Monday, January 23.

The second programme will feature a sample of CDSOU’s most dramatic pursuits, as well as other dangerous drives from other forces across the country.

The show will be the last Police Interceptors to feature the North-East’s top cops after three series based in the region with the show’s producers, Raw Cut, now filming with Cheshire Police.

A limited number of charitable Police Interceptors calendars are being sold for 2017.

For more information, visit cleveland.police.uk