NORTH Yorkshire Police will welcome 51 new officers next week - the force's largest-ever intake.

The officers will be sworn in on Tuesday at an attestation ceremony at County Hall, Northallerton, swelling the number of officers serving the county to 1,441, the highest in the force's history.

Chief Constable Della Cannings will be at the ceremony to see the probationary constables take their oath before JP Gordon Charlton.

She said: "I made a commitment to increase the number of officers serving the people of North Yorkshire. These young men and women represent the living reality of that commitment.

"They will embark on an intensive two-year course of training before being confirmed in the office of constable.

"You will, however, see them on the streets of the county long before then as they begin patrols.

"These officers are the lifeblood of the service. By combining their youth and enthusiasm with the knowledge and experience of their established colleagues, I am confident that this force will continue to build on its successes and will secure quality policing for the future."

On Tuesday, they will declare their commitment en masse, and then receive Certificates of Declaration from Mr Charlton and Ms Cannings.