Ryedale's first ever woman police sergeant has stepped out onto her beat.

Sergeant Carol Horner is now in command of the Pickering station.

She replaces Sergeant Vince Rosser, who has transferred to Eastfield Station in Scarborough.

Sergeant Horner said she plans to carry on with the work begun by her predecessor.

She said: "Pickering is an area that does have its problems. Sometimes, though not all the time, they are public order problems, and there is a bit of a drug problem.

"They are both issues I intend to look at."

And Sergeant Horner said she doesn't expect any problems as the district's first more senior woman officer.

"Quite the opposite. Everybody has been very pleasant and helpful," she added.

Updated: 09:16 Thursday, April 12, 2001