North West Leicestershire's rural beat team have collected a top Leicestershire Police award.

They have been recognised for their services in creating a presence in the rural areas around Ashby and Coalville.

The team have been tackling countryside crime since the unit formed last year.

You can read the article from when the officers first got together HERE.

North West Leicestershire Police gave more details on their Facebook page and said: "Congratulations to our very own PC Emma-Louise Holmes, PCSO Tony Gallagher and Inspector Lindsey Booth who've been awarded a Chief Constable's Commendation for Service Excellence for their commitment to rural policing.

"They created a North West Leicestershire Rural Policing Team to increase public confidence in the police within rural communities.

"They set up intelligence sharing protocols with neighbouring forces to improve the response to reports of crime in the countryside which has been very positively received by local farmers and others who live and work in the countryside.

"On top of their normal duties they've also organised a number of high-profile crime prevention events connecting farmers with industry experts to offer help and advice."