A PRIZE-WINNING dog is helping to fuel the police's fight against crime in East Lancashire.

And Diesel has shown that he is certainly a top performer by coming second in a national police dog competition.

The 22-month-old German Shepherd and his police officer handler, PC John Gallagher, came second across a range of categories at the National Young Dog Competition in Manchester last week.

PC Gallagher and Diesel, who are based at Accrington Police Station but who cover the whole of Eastern Division area, were competing against 18 other handlers and dogs from police forces as far away as Scotland and London.

John and Diesel had to demonstrate their combined skills in categories including obedience, retrieval, 'speak' on command, agility, chase and detain and courage.

Diesel began his crime-tackling career when Guardhall Security in Accrington sponsored a dog to help with policing. Sergeant Neil Persechino is in charge of the Eastern Division Dog Handlers. He said: "Their achievement should reassure the public of Lancashire that we have a good calibre of police dog and handler patrolling the streets."

PC John Gallagher, who has had Diesel since being a puppy, said: "Diesel is a fantastic working dog and has an excellent temperament. He is still very young but is beginning to show some of the potential that he is capable of achieving."

Diesel helps to police football matches, public order situations and help track suspected criminals.