CUMBRIA police’s two newest recruits will be keeping their noses to the ground, as they begin life with the force.

Harley and Sansa, two nine-week-old fox red labradors, have been brought up from Norfolk to begin a year-long training programme during which they will get to experience a range of everyday situations to become accustomed to life on the beat.

The training programme will also be part of the bonding process between the two canines and their handlers – police constables Glenn Myerscough and Barrie Cox – who they will be accompanying on a daily basis.

Sergeant Mark Yielder said: “They’ll be out and about on a daily basis over the next 12 months, spending time in public places like train stations.

“They’ll also have to interact with other dogs, humans and children, so that when it comes to being out and about they’re not frightened or shaken by any scenario that could arise.

“The bond they’ve also got to forge with Glen and Barrie is extremely important as well, because they’ll be going to work with them every day and taking them home every night.

“That’s why they come to us at such a young age.”

Both Harley and Sansa will be deployed as cadaver dogs, meaning they will face the grisly task of locating blood, human flesh, teeth and bones.

“They’re the first two cadaver dogs that Cumbria Police has had,” Sgt Yielder said.

“They’ll be deployed to any scene where we think a body might be located.

“Given that they can’t obviously be trained using human flesh, they’re training is with the flesh from pigs. Believe it or not, their flesh is quite similar to a human’s.

“Pigs also have a similar scent and so they’ll be able to pick up that of a human.”

Members of the public will be able to follow the progress of the pups on the @police dogunit Twitter account.

Updates on the puppy’s progression, information on the dogs unit, handlers, training and the incidents they attend will be posted.