IN the days of the old Blackburn borough force, it was a toss-up which of its policemen had the happier lot -- the bobbies who had to pound the 18 beats in town on foot or those who had to cover the five larger and more hilly rural ones by bicycle.

But 44 years ago this month life was made easier for the "country coppers" when the force forked out £300 and bought them the first of a fleet of motor scooters for their patrols.

To begin with, just two were ordered -- for a six-month trial -- after Watch Committee chairman Alderman John Shorrock, his deputy Alderman Robert Mottershead and Chief Constable George Looms had dealers put three different makes through their paces in the yard of the town's fire station.

At the end of that January, 1957, assessment, the decision to buy one each of the 150cc Vespa and Lambretta models they had appraised was officially announced.

Pictured at the event are (left to right) Alderman Shorrock, Sgt Tom Clarkson, PC Bob Oddie, Alderman Mottershead and Mr Looms.

The Blackburn force was, however, years behind Lancashire Constabulary -- into which it was amalgamated in 1969 -- when it came to augmenting pedal power with motorised cycles.

The county force bought its first motor-bikes -- 12 Triumph combinations -- in 1919. Initially, they were for dispatch work, but the following year one was deployed to turn a PC Proudlove into Lancashire's first speed cop trapping motorists exceeding the limit.

As 'disguise,' he wore a cap in addition to his normal uniform -- and he may be the officer seen aboard the motor-cycle in the right of the row. But Lancashire's motor-bike bobbies did not get solo machines until after 1932.