A MOTHER of two has become the first trainee police officer in the country to be recruited on a part-time basis.

Helen Boston, 35, has been taken on by Cleveland Police as a bobby on the beat.

Cleveland Police's equal opportunities officer, Inspector Clive Pengilley, said the appointment was the first of its kind in the country.

"It is part of our ongoing drive for a viable work and life balance. We are willing to change and we can see it pays dividends."

PC Boston is married to one of the force's dog handlers and has long dreamed of becoming a police officer, but with husband Andrew working three weekends out of four and two young children to look after, she didn't think it was possible.

To her surprise, when she applied to join Cleveland Police, she was told the force could accommodate the hours she wanted to work.

"Basically I heard I could go ahead," she said. "I pursued my application, started in May at the training school, which was full-time and by no means easy. I was with a tutor for ten weeks and am now about to go out on the beat on my own."

She said daughter Amy, 12, and ten-year-old son Daniel were as excited as she was about her new career, which will be based in Stockton.

"Although I am not old it has still been a big challenge," she said. "Joining the police was totally new and it was just what I needed."