WILTSHIRE Police’s recruitment site for police officers has now closed following an exceptionally high level of interest.

The force’s website opened its pre-assessment tool at 4pm yesterday and received 283,820 hits in just two and a half hours.

Wiltshire Police is the first force in the south west to begin recruiting since October 2010.

Police officers will be recruited to create a pool of applicants to fill a number of future intakes.

Successful candidates will begin work later this year and in early 2014.