POLICE officers from the Wyre Forest area are in the running for force-wide awards recognising how they have made a difference to the community.

West Mercia Constabulary will announce winners in a range of categories at its Worcester-based headquarters on Monday.

Among candidates for the Perrins Trophy, awarded to the officer who has helped build strong links with local partner organisations and agencies are PC Jon Harris, Stourport's beat manager, and PC Julian Turner, a Kidderminster-based traffic officer.

PC Harris's achievements have included setting up Sandy Lane Business Association.

He has also developed close working relationships with schools, particularly Stourport High, where he helped set up an initiative providing support to pupils facing permanent exclusion.

That project proved so successful it was rolled out to all schools in the area.

PC Harris also recently secured £14,000 funding for school-based projects. His youth work has also helped reduce and prevent crime.

PC Turner, who has been a traffic management officer for the past eight years, has worked closely with partner organisations during that time to reduce the number of people killed and injured in collisions.

He also works with local motoring organisations and gives regular safety talks to community groups.

One of the candidates for the Len Morris Trophy, for service or achievement in a sporting capacity while representing West Mercia, is Amanda Davis, a forensic investigator at Kidderminster.

She has represented the force at badminton for several years and is a regular member of the British police badminton squad.

She plays for Staffordshire's county team, where she is mixed double champion and is a member of Worcester ladies team.

Speaking about the awards, Chief Constable Paul West said: "I am proud that we will be recognising acts of significant professionalism and commitment by members of the force.

"This is an opportunity to show our staff and the communities in which they live and work how much pride we take in the service they provide."