CANINE recruits from Devon and Cornwall's Police Dog Section have been crowned the top tracking team in the country.

Devon and Cornwall's finest represented the Wales and South West region at the National Police Dog Trials in Scotland at the end of last month.

They were given overall sixth place out of the 21 teams competing and were victorious in the National Tracking Trophy competition.

Star of the show was five year-old Police Dog Lady and handler PC Steve Waters (pictured) who won the Best Long Track prize.

There were more than 1,300 police dogs from 13 forces at the event held in King's Park, Stirling.

Devon and Cornwall Police Dog Training manager Tony Jordan said: 'The fantastic result reflects the very high standards which we aspire to and achieve here in Devon and Cornwall in the face of some very stiff national competition.

'It also reflects the success of our puppy development scheme which provides such capable and competent dogs for us to work with.

'This event was extremely successful and the standard of competition exceptionally high. We're very proud of Lady and PC Waters' achievement.'