MOTORISTS in Bury may have thought the police had launched a major operation against traffic offenders on Tuesday morning when officers swamped Market Street.

In fact, the exercise was for the benefit of 16 new recruits who were putting their knowledge of traffic laws to the test as they continue on the road to becoming fully-trained bobbies.

Student officers are no longer required to train behind closed doors on a residential courses but now learn their skills in the classroom or in real-life exercises performed in the community in which they will soon serve.

Bury is one of the areas chosen as a training ground for the new recruits who are based in classrooms at the Bury Interchange.

Training officer PC Sue Roberts said: "There is no secrecy in how or what we teach our new recruits. Under this new training programme the student officers can learn and develop their skills while doing the job in the community, watched by the public."

On Tuesday, each of the student PCs carried out a stop check on a car. The unsuspecting motorists only learned they were involved in a training exercise after the trainees had completed the required procedures.

Fellow training officer PC Tariq Butt said: "The public have been very receptive towards the students who are becoming more and more confident."

Mr Roy Bamford, from Rochdale, was one of the motorists stopped. He said: "I have no problems with this at all.

"They have to start somewhere. In fact, I learnt something: you must carry your insurance documents around with you and not just your driving licence."