CHESHIRE Police’s first ever furry social media star blasted onto the scene in 2015 and has been making his presence felt ever since.

Back in 2015, Cheshire Police took to Facebook and Twitter asking its followers to name an eight-week-old German Shepherd.

The public chose ‘Bolt’ and the feisty general purpose police dog has been living up to his name ever since.

His proud handler PC Kate Hinds has been out with the crime fighting canine in and around the county since he passed his police puppy training in January.

PC Hinds, from the Cheshire Police Dog Unit, said: “It’s really important that Bolt and I have a good working relationship built on trust.

“When we’re out there on duty, he’s got my back and I’ve got his. We’re a team and it’s vital he understands what I want him to do, and being such a feisty one, actually does what I want him to do. That’s why the training and the matching up of the handler and the dog is so important.”

Bolt undertook a 13-week initial training course to equip him with the skills needed. This will be regularly refreshed with training exercises that replicate real-life situations.

His main jobs are searching for people, including criminals and missing people, and providing a reassuring presence at public events, such as football matches. He also tracks people using scents from scenes of crime and chases fleeing criminals.

PC Hinds, who also has a drugs dog named Pippa, added: “It’s a real challenge but an absolute honour to be working alongside these animals, they are so intelligent and hard working.

“It’s wonderful to see that these animals are so eagerly helping us to keep people safe and bring offenders to justice.”