ROCKY the Alsatian was a 'tearaway' – always chasing other dogs and cats.

After he joined Thames Valley Police, he started chasing criminals – and in 1971 he won three trophies in the force's police dog trials.

With his handler, PC Brian Pyart of the Banbury Division, he won the tracking, police interrogation and criminal work trophies at RAF Greenham Common.

But, he was still only the second best dog in the force: PC Tony Blunt, with Shane of the Oxford City Division, won the overall trophy by 18 points.

Eight-year-old Rocky was given to the Thames Valley force by a Nottinghamshire family seven years before this photo.