THE number of bobbies in North Yorkshire has increased by 84 in the past six months - the largest percentage hike in the country.

The total size of the county's police force is now 1,390, up by 6.5 per cent.

The national increase over the same period - March to September this year - is only 1.2 per cent.

York MP Hugh Bayley hailed the new figures - which mean the county now has more bobbies than when Labour came to power in 1997.

The Government's failure to pass this milestone has been a long-standing political issue, even though Mr Bayley pointed out the number of police employed in 1997 was the same as when the Tories won power in 1979. This was 1,338.

He said: "North Yorkshire does need more police officers and this shows the Labour Government is making good progress.

"The county did not get one single extra police officer throughout 18 years of Tory rule. It is good to see the fight against crime is now getting the backing it needs."

Ryedale MP John Greenway said most of the credit for the increase should go to the Chief Constable, David Kenworthy, and the police authority - rather than the Government.

He said it was their decision to raise additional funds through council tax increases which was the key.

But he added: "This is welcome news. I hope we can now see more of them on the streets."

Vale of York MP Anne Mcintosh also welcomed the increase, saying parts of her constituency were in desperate need of extra officers.

She warned she expects to see a record number of retirements this year as many senior police officers are coming to the end of their careers.

She added: "I hope there will be enough new recruits next year to match what I expect to be a large number of retirements. We need to keep going in the right direction."

Updated: 14:51 Tuesday, December 18, 2001