Lancashire Constabulary has won a top prize in the Commission for Racial Equality's annual Race In The Media awards.

At the star-studded event at London's Savoy Hotel, the Constabulary's police officer recruitment campaign landed the top award in the recruitment advertising section.

The campaign, itself, targeted the minority ethnic communities and according to the judges it made "a clear statement that would have appealed on emotional and factual levels."

Actress Diane Parish, from The Bill, presented the award to David Brindle, the Constabulary's Director of Resources who was accompanied by PC Mebs Ahmed from the Constabulary's recruitment team and Nigel Jones, from Jupiter Advertising. The Lancashire campaign was one of nine considered for the prize.

Mr Brindle said, "The campaign itself was aimed at attracting potential recruits from ethnic minority communities."

"The award is a real recognition of the efforts of a number of staff within the Constabulary assisted by Jupiter Advertising, our consultants."

Mebs Ahmed, the Constabulary's Minority Recruitment Officer, said, "It is absolutely wonderful to receive recognition for the work and the commitment Lancashire Constabulary has shown in attracting people from all our diverse communities. At the end of the day, no matter how much good work we have done or continue to do, if members of the minority communities had not responded in the immensely positive way they have, we would not have achieved the same success."

"I would like to add that there is still a long way to go for us and we will not be sitting on our laurels. We are always looking for innovative ways to promote career opportunities, particularly those of a police officer. Therefore if you are the sort of person who cares for the community you live in, who enjoys helping people, who enjoys a challenging and rewarding career, I would like to hear from you."