Mounted police patrol market site

PCs Kathryn Clayton and Douglas Tait patrol with Scout and Admiral

Clydesdale horses Scout and Admiral have been deployed at the Links Market in Kirkcaldy in a bid to keep the six-day event safe.

The part-time recruits to Fife Police are on loan from colleagues at the Lothian and Borders force.

It comes after mounted police were introduced to Fife for the first time last spring.

Inspector David McCulloch, of Fife Constabulary, praised the merits of traditional methods.

Insp McCulloch said the horses were invaluable in bringing officers into areas difficult to reach by foot or by car.

He added: "The mounted patrols last year helped us deter off-road motorcyclists, a particular nuisance, for example, on the Fife Coastal Route.

"We also used the horses in known areas of anti-social behaviour around Glenrothes and at Lochore Meadows.

"This is just the sort of specialist operation we'll deploy the horses on this year."

Ch Insp David Carradice, of Lothian and Borders specialist operations, said: "I am delighted we are able to work so closely, particularly in respect of sharing specialist resources such as mounted police officers.

"I look forward to building on this success with Fife and, perhaps, other Scottish forces."