SNODGRASS, the police horse which put all others in the shade', has left Leigh for pastures new (writes Malcolm Ryding).

Together with four other 'colleagues', Snodgrass - who needs giant sunglasses (in the sun!) because of a painful eye condition - has been replaced at the Chapel Street stables by five horses from GMP's Hough End.

Moving out on Monday were Dodson, Saxby, Barnaby, Dawkins and Snodgrass.

Saxby has been retired after 20 years service. Until recently he was the mounted inspector's horse - until he retired.

Moving in were more Dickens characters : Pickwick, Micawber, Adams, Steele and Barkis (pictured with Pc Ashley Worthington, Pc John Washington and Pc Paul Herbert).

And Sgt Peter Yates, in charge of the Leigh horses, is sure they'll soon prove as popular as the 'old brigade'.

Also coming with the new horses is a new recruit.

Pc Ashley Worthington, a former area constable in Leigh, has just completed a 16-week riding course at Hough End.

He will help police the Wigan and Bolton divisions, taking in crowd control at Central Park and the new Reebok Stadium along with Hogn, Paul, Peter and Pcs Elaine Cockcroft and Sally Biggar.

Also moving out this week was Pc Paul Bland, on his way to Hough End after 13 years in Leigh.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.