Up to 300 police officers are being told to abandon desk work and non-essential duties to patrol the streets of South Yorkshire.

The move is part of Operation Impact which aims to tackle street crime.

Officers employed in administrative roles, traffic and the mounted section will take to the streets from Monday as part of a six-week pilot project.

Mike Hedges, chief constable of South Yorkshire Police, told BBC Radio Sheffield he hoped the initiative would offer reassurance to the public.

"The purpose of this is to build on the performance we've had over the last few weeks in keeping street crime down to an absolute minimum," he said.

"But most important of all it is to bring reassurance to the community."