EARBY'S beat bobby PC Bryan Pepper has been nominated for a national Community Beat Officer of the Year Award.

PC Pepper has been chosen as the Pennine Division's candidate for the award due to his outstanding work in all aspects of policing the local community, from targeting known offenders to promoting respect in local schools.

If he is chosen as Lancashire Constabulary's top beat bobby, he will go forward to the national final and be in with a chance of winning a £3,000 travel bursary to study community policing methods in a foreign country.

PC Pepper has patrolled the Earby Ward - including Kelbrook, Sough and Salterforth - since the introduction of the new Community Beat Manager system. Hailed as a return to "old-style policing", it has officers designated a specific beat and able to build contacts with the local community.

Part of the reason for his nomination has been his successful "Respect" initiative, presenting talks in all the area's primary schools, which then carry out follow-up work on the theme. The initiative teaches youngsters to respect themselves, other people and property and has been popular with schools.

PC Pepper was recently awarded his second Chief Superintendent's Commendation this year, for his professionalism in dealing with a large group of unruly and drunken youths in Earby at the start of a clampdown on juvenile nuisance, in June.

Two other officers have also received commendations in relation to the same incident, Specials Section Officer Mick Fothergill and Special Constable Wayne Lawson. All three officers were injured, one with a broken wrist, but managed to contain the incident and arrest the main protagonist, a local youth who has since been prosecuted for police assault and being drunk and disorderly.