POLICE instructors who normally put officers through their paces in high-performance cars dropped down a gear to put tractor-driving trainees to the test near York.
North Yorkshire Police PCs Dave Jacobs and Chris Morris were the first of the force's six driver trainers to take part in a unique project with agriculture students at Askham Bryan College.
The officers are working towards a nationally-recognised assessors' award which requires them to have their assessment skills judged while they evaluate drivers who are themselves involved in a national scheme.
They were at the college to appraise the driving and equipment safety skills of the students, while their own assessment skills were being judged by an expert from North Yorkshire County Council training services.
The police trainers watched closely as the NVQ students manoeuvred their tractors, reversed with farm trailers and connected implements such as harvesters and muck spreaders in accordance with health and safety regulations.
The resulting assessments will go forward as part of the students' NVQ portfolios.
Updated: 09:30 Thursday, October 11, 2001
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