Scores of men and women have applied to join Grampian Police after a recruitment drive.

About 100 applications have been received from people keen on being full-time officers and 17 for serving the community in their spare time.

The interest follows a month-long recruitment drive and more applications are expected.

A force spokesman said: "We are absolutely delighted with the tremendous response."

Candidates are men and women aged over 18-and-a-half.

The new recruits could find themselves serving in any one of four divisions in Aberdeen, Moray, North Aberdeenshire and South Aberdeenshire.

The spokesman said: "Normally we would only expect around 40 applications for regulars and about eight for specials.

"In total, since the campaign started, we have received 233 requests for information packs for regulars and 31 information packs for specials, so hopefully there will be a lot more to come in."

The force currently has more than 1,300 regular officers and more than 120 special constables and wants to build on that over the coming year.

Special constables hold the powers of a regular officer, wear the same uniform and are fully trained to undertake duties.

They work from their local police station at a mutually convenient time and can qualify for an award of £1,000 depending on the number of duty hours they carry out.

A cadet scheme for young people being developed by Grampian Police attracted more than 100 enquiries earlier this year.

Teenagers aged 16 and 17 living in the region will be paid between £6,579 and £7,767 per annum during the course of their cadetship.

Several former police cadets serve with the force - including Chief Constable Colin McKerracher.