POLICE puppy Boris is aiming to follow the stellar trail of a fellow Staffie who hit the headlines after sniffing out a huge haul of cash.

Like Stella from Neighbouring Gloucestershire Police, young Boris was abandoned as a pup and taken in by the RSPCA.

But his olfactory aptitude was spotted and he was recruited by Wiltshire Police. Now the little dog is learning to sniff out drugs, firearms, ammunition and cash.

Dog trainer Ian Partington said: "People are often surprised to see that we use Staffies in the police force, but they can make excellent search dogs. Stella, for example, has had some brilliant finds and I am sure Boris will be just as successful.

"Sadly, like many Staffies, he was abandoned as a puppy but fortunately he was rescued by the RSPCA who recognised his talents and he is now doing great in training."

Stella's handler, PC Claire Todd, said: "Stella is a pleasure to work with. She loves her job and doesn't realise how important it is. To her, it is fun - she searches for the hidden drugs, cash, firearms or ammunition and when she finds it, she freezes, and then she gets her favourite ball as a reward.

"Stella has a brilliant search drive, as good as any other breed of police search dog. It proves that with the correct training, a rescue Staffie can be an amazing police search dog."

Staffordshire Bull Terriers were originally bred as small, fast fighting dogs and were used in bear baiting. They eventually developed a reputation as a gentle family dog, but in recent years they have been more likely to hit the headlines for attacking people and other dogs.

But last year Stella made news for all the right reasons when she was named public service dog of the year at the Animal Hero Awards and appeared on breakfast television.

Back in 2013 she had been found abandoned in Taunton and was taken to the RSPCA’s base at West Hatch where staff noticed she had a talent for finding tennis balls. She completed her six-week training course in just a month

Less than two years later she uncovered uncovered £25,000 of hidden cash during a raid on a house in the Forest of Dean.