Part-time bobbies today took responsibility for the policing of Bradford City's match at Valley Parade.

For the first time in this country, Special Constables were providing the main policing presence in and around the ground.

About 80 Specials were deployed to oversee the thousands of home and visiting fans before, during and after the game.

The scheme is designed to free up more full-time, regular officers to carry out day-to-day crime-fighting duties.

If successful, it will likely be used regularly in the future, saving the force money and boosting the role of the Special Constabulary.

Regular officers from the West Yorkshire Police's Target initiative headed today's operation but Specials were out in force on the streets.

Chief Inspector Steve Hodgson, of Target, said: "I believe this could be the first time in the country that the Special Constabulary has been so heavily involved in the policing of a major football match.

"It freed up considerable police resources for regular officers to stay in their own division to continue with core police business."

About 35 full-time officers are usually involved with Bradford home games but up to 20 of these were being released for other duties.

Chief Insp Hodgson said the vast majority of Specials' duties were identical to those of full-time colleagues including tackling street crime, carrying out patrols and making arrests.

And he stressed that they were fully trained in areas such as the law and police powers, how to deal with various incidents, and the action to take at crime scenes and accidents.

Chief Insp Hodgson said: "Such training is vital because it is essential that the people who represent West Yorkshire Police are fully aware of their responsibilities to the public, the law and their colleagues.

"The Special Constables involved in tomorrow's operation are all looking forward to policing the event in a professional and knowledgeable manner."

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about becoming a Special Constable can visit the West Yorkshire Police website at www.westyorkshire.police.uk or telephone (01924) 292143.