TWO "full of character" Wiltshire police dogs are retiring after almost 15 years of service between them.

PD Tyke and PD Max are two of the police's most popular dogs.

PD Tyke has worked alongside PC Cindy Hargreave since he was licensed back in 2013.

Now he has retired, he will continue living with PC Hargreave, who has just started training with a new puppy called Betty.

PC Hargreave describes Tyke as her life saver, after he protected her when a man charged at her with a petrol barrel while she was dealing with another man armed with an iron bar during an illegal rave.

She added: “Tyke is full of character. He’s goofy as well as being tenacious, he has the ability to be sociable but always switched nicely to being a Police Dog when required.

"He was a driven, determined and strong willed police dog, but most of all just wanted to please and work.

"Something which, now he’s retired, is not sitting well with him, especially when he has to stay at home when I go to work, but the welcome I get when I return home is the best.

“Tyke was the best team mate and partner I could ever have wished for.”

Also retiring is Police Dog Max, who worked alongside PC Tracy Doughty.

She became his handler when he reached the age of four.

One of Max’s proudest moments as a police dog was locating offenders involved in a series of burglaries in Swindon, as well as receiving two awards where Max’s skills were pivotal to locating a suspect.

PC Doughty said: “Max has a very strong presence.

"He has been challenging to work with but he's a big softy really, and I’ll miss his ‘verbal opinion’.

"He will remain living with me, and he is already loving being inside on the sofa.

"He’s looked after me, so it’s up to me now to do the same for him.”

Tyke’s replacement is PPD Betty, while Max will be replaced by PPD Rudi.

They are currently in training with PC Hargreave and PC Doughty and once they gain their licences, they will be out protecting the people of Wiltshire.