In the saddle should mean being closer to the community

Wearing yellow vests and blue and white cycle helmets, the officers will be patrolling Selby town centre as well as the Abbots Road and Flaxley Road estates.

Brayton, Sherburn-in-Elmet and Tadcaster will also each being getting their own beat bike bobby.

It is hoped the cycle officers will be more approachable than those in cars.

Tremendous reaction

This should enable the police to build up a better relationship with the public.

Inspector David Hunt is in charge of the fleet of six bikes.

"I've been out on the estates," he told BBC North Yorkshire, "and the reaction has been tremendous.

"We are looking forward to a stream of intelligence and information."

The bicycles have been paid for from a government grant obtained by the Selby District Crime Prevention Partnership.