THOUSANDS of pounds of stolen property has been recovered and 79 criminals arrested thanks to PC Jim Haydock and his police dog, Lancon Ben.

Now PC Haydock from Barnoldswick has been awarded the Police Dog Handler of the Year trophy for his outstanding record and ability.

PC Haydock, 37, was chosen by his colleagues for his conscientiousness, professionalism and exceptional ability in handling the six-year-old German Shepherd dog.

PC Sean Cunningham, 29, from Burnley; PC Glen Smith, 26, from Accrington, and PC Christopher Saville, 31, from Accrington, were also presented with awards for bravery at the ceremony at the police headquarters in Hutton.

The two Accrington officers were confronted by a gun after challenging three men in a stolen car in Washington Street.

A 0.38 calibre semi-automatic handgun was pointed straight at PC Saville's stomach by one of the gang.

They had planned to rob a sub-postmaster collecting cash from a tobacconists. The three men were later jailed for a total of 23 years.

PC Cunningham was off duty when he foiled a robbery in the Spar Shop in Melville Street, Burnley. He disarmed a man threatening staff with a baseball bat, only to face an accomplice wielding an axe.

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