Cheshire Police have welcomed their latest four-legged recruit.

Having arrived at the force in May, PD Vienna has just completed her first set of operational shifts.

Earlier this month, the three-year-old German Shepherd became fully licensed to take to Cheshire's streets as part of a crime-fighting duo with her handler, Mark Sheehan.

Mark said: "PD Vienna is my fourth General Purpose dog with big paws to fill following PDs Speedy, Kova, and Merlin - who was my first dog having been fortunate enough to have joined the dog unit way back in 2004.

"It was always my ambition to be a dog handler and I can still recall the advice of my first dog instructor on becoming licensed with PD Merlin.

"I was told, 'Remember, the brains of the outfit are at that end of the lead,' whilst pointing towards Merlin. 'If he could drive, he wouldn't need you'. This is advice which was probably the truest I've ever been given.

"Vienna has shown great potential during her initial training and has settled into home life where she shares her kennel with PD Maggie who is my specialist search dog. They have become firm friends."

PD Vienna is a general purpose dog, which means she gets involved in a range of situations - including tracking down suspects or assisting in searching for missing people.

On her very first night shift, PD Vienna helped to locate and detain two males who had decamped from a suspected stolen moped.

During her time away from assisting officers, PD Vienna loves nothing more than chasing her ball.