FIFTEEN new police recruits are ready to go on the beat in Bolton.

The probationers stepped out in their smartly pressed uniforms for the first time -- and declared themselves ready for the challenges the job will throw at them.

The group, which has undergone 12 weeks of training at the force's regional training centre in Warrington, will be joined later this year by around 50 more officers following a recruitment drive.

By the end of the year, Bolton's policing numbers will have risen by more than 10 per cent to around 560 officers.

Bolton's new additions are part of a recruitment process launched by Greater Manchester Police's Chief Constable Michael Todd which has seen the number of officers in the county exceed 8,000 for the first time ever.

Among the group was 31-year-old Warren Noblett, from Prestwich, who said he was relishing the challenge of serving the public.

"It's an ambition I've always had," said the former fitness instructor. "It's going to be different every day of the week.

"The job represents a challenge and the opportunity to help the community that I don't feel other lines of work can offer."

Mick Tinsley, aged 33, was returning to police work after serving with the Metropolitan Police in London for five years in the 1990s.

He said: "The basics of the job are the same but there have been a lot of changes since 1995 which I have had to become accustomed to.

"I left and got married, but I always said that the police force was something I wanted to return to because of the challenges it offers."

Police chiefs today hailed the new additions as evidence to their commitment to tackle crime in the region.

Chief Supt David Lea, the head of Bolton Police, said: "I am delighted to be welcoming so many new recruits to Bolton this summer.

"The 15 probationers are a taste of things to come. There will be more than 50 new recruits joining us over the coming months.

This is great news for Greater Manchester Police and great news for Bolton. Our aim is to make the town a safer place in which to live and work and additional officers on the beat will help strengthen the Bolton division of GMP to achieve our goals."